Effect of levosimendan in patients with severe systolic heart failure and worsening renal function

Zorlu, Ali; Yücel, Hasan; Yontar, Osman Can; Karahan, Oguz; Tandogan, Izzet; Katrancioglu, Nurkay; Yilmaz, Mehmet Birhan

doi:10.1590/S0066-782X2012005000048

Abstracts

BACKGROUND: Levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer, increases the sensitivity of the heart to calcium, thus increasing myocardial contractility without a rise in intracellular calcium. It was recently shown that levosimendan is beneficial in improving renal function. However, it remains to be established that the beneficial effect is differentially related to renal status during index event. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to determine whether levosimendan could improve renal outcome in acute decompensated heart failure patients with and without worsening renal function. METHODS: Forty-five consecutive patients who had a reduced glomerular filtration rate and had at least two consecutive data regarding renal function prior to administration of levosimendan were enrolled in the study. Patients were classified into two groups as those with and without worsening renal function based on an increase in serum creatinine >0.3 mg/dL. RESULTS: A significant improvement was noted in renal function in patients with worsening renal function (serum creatinine from 1.4±0.16 to 1.21±0.23 mg/dL, p=0.001 and glomerular filtration rate level from 48.9±15 to 59.3±21.8 mL/min/m², p=0.011), while there was no significant improvement in those without worsening renal function (serum creatinine from 1.29±0.33 to 1.37±0.66 mg/dL, p=0.240 and glomerular filtration rate level from 53.7±17.6 to 52.9±21.4 mL/min/m², p=0.850). CONCLUSION: Levosimendan appears to provide a renal-enhancing effect in patients with severe, acute decompensated systolic heart failure and worsening renal function. Consideration of this differential effect might help obtain beneficial renal outcomes. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2012; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Heart failure; levosimendan; worsening renal function; renal-enhancing effect; creatinine; glomerular filtration rate

FUNDAMENTO: O levosimendan, um sensibilizador de cálcio, aumenta a sensibilidade do coração para o cálcio, aumentando assim a contratilidade miocárdica, sem aumento do cálcio intracelular. Recentemente foi demonstrado que o levosimendan era benéfico na melhoria da função renal. No entanto, fica por determinar que o efeito benéfico esteja relacionado em forma diferencial ao status renal durante o evento-índice. OBJETIVO: O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar se o levosimendan pode melhorar o resultado renal em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca aguda descompensada com e sem agravamento da função renal. MÉTODOS: Quarenta e cinco pacientes consecutivos que tiveram uma taxa de filtração glomerular reduzida e pelo menos dois dados consecutivos quanto à função renal, antes da administração de levosimendan, foram incluídos no estudo. Os pacientes foram classificados em dois grupos, com e sem agravamento da função renal com base no aumento da creatinina sérica > 0,3 mg/dL. RESULTADOS: Uma melhoria significativa foi observada na função renal em pacientes com agravamento da função renal (creatinina sérica de 1,4 ± 0,16 a 1,21 ± 0,23 mg/dL, p = 0,001 e taxa de filtração glomerular de 48,9 ± 15 a 59,3 ± 21,8 mL/min/m², p = 0,011), apesar de que não houve melhoria significativa em aqueles sem agravamento da função renal (creatinina sérica de 1,29 ± 0,33 a 1,37 ± 0,66 mg/dL, p = 0,240 e taxa de filtração glomerular de 53,7 ± 17,6 a 52,9 ± 21,4 mL/min/m², p = 0,850). CONCLUSÃO: O levosimendan parece proporcionar um efeito de realce renal em pacientes com severa insuficiência cardíaca sistólica descompensada aguda e agravamento da função renal. Considerar esse efeito diferencial poderia contribuir a obter resultados renais benéficos. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2012; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Insuficiência cardíaca; cardiotônicos; creatinina; taxa de filtração glomerular

Effect of levosimendan in patients with severe systolic heart failure and worsening renal function

Ali Zorlu^I; Hasan Yücel^I; Osman Can Yontar^I; Oguz Karahan^II; Izzet Tandogan^I; Nurkay Katrancioglu^II; Mehmet Birhan Yilmaz^I

^ICumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Department of Cardiology

^IICumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Sivas, Turkey

Mailing Address

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer, increases the sensitivity of the heart to calcium, thus increasing myocardial contractility without a rise in intracellular calcium. It was recently shown that levosimendan is beneficial in improving renal function. However, it remains to be established that the beneficial effect is differentially related to renal status during index event.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to determine whether levosimendan could improve renal outcome in acute decompensated heart failure patients with and without worsening renal function.

METHODS: Forty-five consecutive patients who had a reduced glomerular filtration rate and had at least two consecutive data regarding renal function prior to administration of levosimendan were enrolled in the study. Patients were classified into two groups as those with and without worsening renal function based on an increase in serum creatinine > 0.3 mg/dL.

RESULTS: A significant improvement was noted in renal function in patients with worsening renal function (serum creatinine from 1.4±0.16 to 1.21±0.23 mg/dL, p=0.001 and glomerular filtration rate level from 48.9±15 to 59.3±21.8 mL/min/m², p=0.011), while there was no significant improvement in those without worsening renal function (serum creatinine from 1.29±0.33 to 1.37±0.66 mg/dL, p=0.240 and glomerular filtration rate level from 53.7±17.6 to 52.9±21.4 mL/min/m², p=0.850).

CONCLUSION: Levosimendan appears to provide a renal-enhancing effect in patients with severe, acute decompensated systolic heart failure and worsening renal function. Consideration of this differential effect might help obtain beneficial renal outcomes. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2012;[online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Keywords: Heart failure, levosimendan, worsening renal function, renal-enhancing effect, creatinine, glomerular filtration rate

Introduction

Worsening renal function is a well-established predictor of adverse outcomes and prolonged length of hospital stay in patients with heart failure (HF).^1,2 Renal dysfunction is highly prevalent among patients with chronic HF. In fact, renal dysfunction has been reported to occur in one of four patients with HF.² The risk for morbidity and all-cause mortality in patients with HF gradually increases with an increase in creatinine or a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate.¹ Thus, in order to define the complex interaction between the heart and kidneys, the term "cardiorenal syndrome" was introduced.³Due to the complex nature of interaction between the heart and kidneys, cardiorenal syndrome has been divided into five different subtypes.³A deteriorated heart function may impair the function of the kidney both acutely and chronically, or vice versa. In the first subcategory of cardiorenal syndrome, abrupt deterioration of cardiac function brings about acute kidney injury, whereas, in the second subcategory, chronic cardiac disease causes chronic kidney disease. In the third category, abrupt worsening of renal function brings about acute cardiac dysfunction, whereas, in the fourth subcategory, chronic renal disease causes chronic cardiac disease in the form of hypertrophy. However, a single pathology may affect both the heart and kidneys at the same time, and this is also a discrete subcategory.³

Levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer, has been introduced for the treatment of acute and chronic HF.^4-6 Because there is a significant impact of impaired renal function on the prognosis of HF, an ideal inotrope is expected to improve not only the cardiac output, but also the cardiorenal syndrome. Levosimendan differs from conventional inotropes with its renal-enhancing effects.⁷The potential beneficial effects of levosimendan in patients with HF and impaired renal function could be due to the increase in renal blood flow, levosimendan-induced vasodilatation mediated by the blockade of ATP-sensitive potassium channels, the alteration of mesangial cell contraction with a consequent increase in glomerular capillary surface area, or anti-inflammatory effects against the possibility of tubular injury.^8-11 However, it is not well understood that whether this beneficial effect is related to renal status, which could either be in the form of acute worsening of renal function or established and long standing impairment of renal function, during index event or not. In the current study, we aimed to determine whether or not a difference existed in the renal-enhancing effect of levosimendan in patients with and without worsening renal function.

Materials and Methods

The study protocol, which included investigation of all heart failure patients who were administered levosimendan between January 2007-December 2009, was approved by the local Ethics Committee and all subjects gave informed consent. One hundred forty-four consecutive patients with severe, low-output, acute decompensated systolic HF (ejection fraction [EF] < 35%, all patients were New York Heart Association [NYHA] class IV), who were administered inotropic therapy with levosimendan based on the discretion of their primary physicians, were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were excluded from the study for the following reasons: administration of inotropic therapy on the day of hospitalization (n=37); history of acute coronary syndrome or cardiogenic shock within the last month prior to the index hospitalization (n=6); prescription of potentially nephrotoxic drugs within the month before hospitalization (n=2); severe primary valvular disease (n=4); lack of at least 2 consecutive follow-up data regarding renal function before and after the infusions (n=7); being under renal replacement therapy before hospitalization (n=5); history of end-stage renal disease (n=12); and normal GFR ( glomerular filtration rate >90 ml/min/m2) prior to administration of levosimendan (n=26). The GFR was estimated for each patient according to the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula.¹²

Data of 45 consecutive patients who had acute decompensated HF and impaired renal function (GFR <90 mL/min/m2) with at least two consecutive data regarding renal function during the index hospitalization prior to administration of levosimendan, were considered for the analysis. The creatinine levels for all patients were obtained from the medical records of the patients. Worsening renal function was defined as an increase in the serum creatinine level by ≥0.3 mg/dL from a stable baseline level within the last 1 month during the index hospitalization.¹³Patients who did not have an apparent exacerbation of HF, with fluctuating creatinine levels >0.3 mg/dL within the last 1 month (without considering the levels measured in the hospital), were excluded. Authors thought that levosimendan-induced hypotension would increase tubular injury and that would affect the results. Because of that, patients who were at risk for hypotension (blood pressure were lower than 90/50 mmHg in the beginning of hospitalization) were also excluded from study. Thus, only patients with worsening renal function related to the index exacerbation of HF were considered. Patients were classified into two groups, as follows: (1) those with worsening renal function who were considered to have type I cardiorenal syndrome,³ which was defined as an acute kidney injury upon acute deterioration of cardiac function, and (2) those without worsening renal function prior to administration of levosimendan. Serial measurements of serum creatinine levels were performed. The most recent creatinine level measured prior to levosimendan infusion was accepted as the baseline value. Levosimendan was initiated with a 30-minute bolus of 3-12 µg/kg/min, followed by a 24-hour infusion of 0.1 µg/kg/min, and up-titrated to 0.2 µg/kg/min if tolerated by the patient. Renal function was evaluated 48-72 hours after the infusion (the last available record between these periods during which the dose of other drugs were not changed). During this period, the dosages of all drugs including diuretics were constant. Patients with physician-ordered changes of active drugs (Table 1) were excluded (patients who had already been excluded due to end-stage renal disease, renal replacement therapy and use of nephrotoxic drugs). The patient flow chart was presented in Figure 1.

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Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows (Version 10.0; SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation, or as n (%), as applicable. Parametric data were evaluated by the Mann-Whitney U test. Temporal changes in parametric data were evaluated by the Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired samples. Categorical data were evaluated by a chi-square test. A p value≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The baseline characteristics of the patients are presented in Table 1. There were no significant differences between patients with and without worsening renal function with respect to age, gender, blood pressure, baseline serum creatinine and GFR level, and frequency of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and atrial fibrillation. The patients with and without worsening renal function received furosemide, the only currently available loop diuretic in Turkey, at a median dose of 80 mg/day the day before and after infusion.

In the overall study sample, a slight but significant improvement was noted in the GFR levels after levosimendan infusion (52.18±16.8 to 55.3±22 mL/min/m2, p=0.05). In patients with worsening renal function, the levosimendan infusion led to a significant improvement in the serum creatinine level (1.4±0.16 to 1.21±0.23 mg/dL, p=0.001), as well as in the GFR level (48.9±15 to 59.3±21.8 mL/min/m2, p=0.011). However, there was no significant difference between the creatinine and GFR levels measured at baseline and after infusion in those without worsening renal function (1.29±0.33 to 1.37±0.66 mg/dl, p=0,240 and 53.7±17.6 to 52.9±21.4 mL/min/m2, p=0.850, respectively; Table 2).

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A significant difference was noted between the patients with and without worsening renal function with respect to an absolute change in creatinine and GFR levels (-0.19±0.16 to 0.08±0.4, p=0.017 and 18±16 to 1.9±22, p=0.004, respectively Table 3).

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As a result, a significant renal-enhancing effect of levosimendan was observed in patients with HF and worsening renal function, whereas, almost neutral effect was observed in those without worsening renal function.

Discussion

Worsening renal function frequently complicates the course of HF decompensation. Thus, any drug which can improve worsening renal function might affect therapeutic decision, and levosimendan appears to have the potential to reverse worsening renal function. It is traditionally accepted that reduced renal perfusion pressure, primarily a result of decreased mean arterial pressure, is the main determinant of worsening renal function. Patients with worsening renal function, which can be regarded as impaired organ perfusion in the setting of decompensated HF, are usually treated with traditional inotropes with the expectation to increase perfusion pressure primarily. On the other hand, levosimendan with venodilatory properties was shown to be beneficial compared to a traditional inotrope in patients with HF and renal dysfunction, in a study conducted by Yilmaz et al.⁷ However, in that particular study, all patients had worsening renal function, and thus there was a lack of evidence suggesting a selective beneficial effect of levosimendan in such patients. In the current study, levosimendan provided a selective beneficial effect in patients with worsening renal function, whereas there was a near-neutral effect in patients without worsening renal function.

In a case-control study in 2009, Yilmaz et al.⁵ showed that levosimendan was beneficial in severe systolic HF patients with an accompanying right ventricular dysfunction, which could be the major determinant of increased central venous pressure. In a recent paper, it was shown that central venous pressure was related to worsening renal function, and thus the potential association between the improvement in renal function and levosimendan might be driven by an improvement in right ventricular function (suction effect, partly driven by improved left ventricular function) and an associated decrease in central venous pressure.¹⁴ However, except for the crude markers of cardiac function (dilated right ventricle), patient data regarding right ventricular function (such as longitudinal motion and tissue Doppler findings) during index hospitalization were missing in our study. In fact, the entire study population was noted to have some degree of right ventricular dilatation.

It appears possible that in patients with severe, acute decompensated systolic HF and worsening renal function, timely intervention with levosimendan can reverse the ongoing process of renal dysfunction through several protective mechanisms. In contrast, regardless of its severity, the relatively stable renal dysfunction associated with chronic HF appears to be resistant to any inotropic insult, since it is not an acute pathophysiologic condition resulting in organ hypoperfusion.

Renal function is dependent on renal blood flow and central venous pressure, which is an important and independent predictor of estimated GFR in patients with heart failure. Elevated intravenous pressure might contribute to the increase of renal vein pressure leading to impaired renal function through decreased perfusion pressure for the glomeruli. We think that various effects of levosimendan and its metabolites may contribute to the improvement in renal function, such as the increase in renal blood flow due to improved hemodynamic state,^15-16 augmentation in renal perfusion via potent vasodilatation through K ATP channel agonism and the reversal of AT-2 mediated mesengial cell contraction causing increase in glomerular capillary surface area.⁸ Another possible mechanism is the functional improvement in the right ventricle which probably leads to decrease in central venous pressure. Our prior research¹⁷ showed that levosimendan seemed to provide more beneficial effects among patients with biventricular systolic heart failure, along with decrease in pulmonary pressure and increase in right ventricle contractility, both of which may be acting together up on the net effect. The favorable effects of levosimendan on right ventricle systolic dysfunction might have resulted partially from the improvement of left ventricle function. Finally, one could suggest that the main explanation for this beneficial effect is the venodilatory effects of levosimendan, reducing central venous pressure.¹⁸ There are other studies concerning this subject. One of them¹⁹ analyzed the beneficial effect of levosimendan on the right ventricle diastolic function as well as systolic function. Increased diastolic filling of the right ventricle possibly contributes to decrease in central venous pressure.

On the other hand, there was no correlation between improvement of cardiac functions defined by ejection fraction and improvement serum creatinine levels (p=0.230). This finding also supports authors’ hypothesis suggesting that improvement in renal functions was mainly due to peripheral effects of levosimendan rather than systolic enhancement.

One of the main limitations of this study is lack of data regarding left ventricle contractility except than ejection fraction. However, ejection fraction is major indicator of cardiac contractility. Although significant increase in ejection fraction after levosimendan was noted in all patients, only patients who had baseline renal impairment showed a significant decrease in serum creatinine levels.

The difference might be driven by worse creatinine levels at admission, because, the worse it is at admission, the better it is the improvement in general. However, it is of note that all patients in the current study had impaired renal function, indicated by a GFR <90 ml/min/m2. Furthermore, more precise definitions for renal dysfunction with new markers indicating early injuries could increase the possible impact of acute therapy since creatinine is a relatively late marker of renal injury.²⁰ This was the logic for considering creatinine records 48-72 hours after the infusions, but before any change in drugs with the potential to influence renal function. Earlier samples might have underestimated the changes due to the relatively delayed effect on creatinine. On the other hand, enrollment of all patients with worsening renal function irrespective of the issue whether the renal function of the patient deteriorated during the hospitalization or before the hospitalization might be criticized, because, pathophysiologically speaking, these two may be different. Some may criticize the use of levosimendan in patients with impaired renal function. Of note, none of the patients was in end-stage renal disease, although levosimendan has been proven safe and effective in such patients.

Limitations

There were several limitations to the current study. First of all, the retrospective nature of data handling is subject to a number of confounders, including possible effects of uncontrolled drugs and acute hemodynamics (hypotension-hypertension). In addition, we were not able to evaluate the impact of central venous pressure since data regarding central venous pressure and parameters of right ventricular function were not available in the medical records of the patients, although it is known that central venous pressure significantly affect renal perfusion pressure, and thus the GFR.¹⁴

Although, the findings of our study were in accordance with the recent literature,^21-24 the small sample size and the lack of a comparable inotrope, which could have potentially increased the confounders, prevented us from drawing definitive conclusions. However, we performed a post hoc power analyses baseline and after the infusion creatinine levels in patients with and without worsening renal function. We calculated a power of 80.29 % with a p <0.05 and our case numbers in the study groups. However, it is of note, no study has considered this point so far. Thus, there is a need for prospective comparative studies on renal-enhancing effects of levosimendan in patients with and without worsening renal function.

Conclusion

In conclusion, renal-enhancing effects of levosimendan, indicated by the percent change in GFR and a change in creatinine, in patients suffering from severe, acute decompensated systolic HF seems to be restricted to patients with worsening renal function. However, we think we need further studies to prove the concept.

References

1. Smith GL, Vaccarino V, Kosiborod M, Lichtman JH, Cheng S, Watnick SG, et al. Worsening renal function: what is a clinically meaningful change in creatinine during hospitalization with heart failure? J Card Fail. 2003;9(1):13-25.
2. Hillege HL, Nitsch D, Pfeffer MA, Swedberg K, McMurray JJ, Yusuf S, et al. Renal function as a predictor of outcome in a broad spectrum of patients with heart failure. Circulation. 2006;113(5):671-8.
3. Ronco C, Haapio M, House AA, Anavekar N, Bellomo R. Cardiorenal syndrome. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;52(19):1527-39.
4. Bocchi EA, Vilas-Boas F, Moreira Mda C, Barretto AC, Lage S, Albuquerque D, et al; Investigators of BELIEF Study; Heart Failure Working Group of Brazilian Society of Cardiology. Levosimendan in decompensated heart failure patients: efficacy in a Brazilian cohort. Results of the BELIEF study. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2008;90(3):182-90.
5. Yilmaz MB, Yontar C, Erdem A, Karadas F, Yalta K, Turgut OO, et al. Comparative effects of levosimendan and dobutamine on right ventricular function in patients with biventricular heart failure. Heart Vessels. 2009;24(1):16-21.
6. Mebazaa A, Nieminen MS, Filippatos GS, Cleland JG, Salon JE, Thakkar R, et al. Levosimendan vs. dobutamine: outcomes for acute heart failure patients on beta-blockers in SURVIVE. Eur J Heart Fail. 2009;11(3):304-11
7. Yilmaz MB, Yalta K, Yontar C, Karadas F, Erdem A, Turgut OO, et al. Levosimendan improves renal function in patients with acute decompensated heart failure: comparison with dobutamine. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2007;21(6):431-5.
8. Pataricza J, Krassói I, Hohn J, Kun A, Papp JG. Functional role of potassium channels in the vasodilating mechanism of levosimendan in porcine isolated coronary artery. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2003;17(2):115-21.
9. Paraskevaidis IA, Parissis JT, Th Kremastinos D. Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of levosimendan in decompansated heart failure: a novel mechanism of drug-induced improvement in contractile performance of the failing heart. Curr Med Chem Cardiovasc Hematol Agents. 2005;3(3):243-7.
10. Zager RA, Johnson AC, Lund S, Hanson SY, Abrass CK. Levosimendan protects against experimental endotoxemic acute renal failure. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2006;290(6):F1453-62.
11. Parissis JT, Farmakis D, Kremastinos DT. Anti-inflammatory effects of levosimendan in decompensated heart failure: impact on weight loss and anemia. Am J Cardiol. 2005;95(7):923-4.
12. O’Meara E, Chong KS, Gardner RS, Jardine AG, Neilly JB, McDonagh TA. The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equations provide valid estimations of glomerular filtration rates in patients with advanced heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail. 2006;8(1):63-7.
13. Cowie MR, Komajda M, Murray-Thomas T, Underwood J, Ticho B; POSH Investigators. Prevalence and impact of worsening renal function in patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure: results of the prospective outcomes study in heart failure (POSH). Eur Heart J. 2006;27(10):1216-22.
14. Mullens W, Abrahams Z, Francis GS, Sokos G, Taylor DO, Starling RC, et al. Importance of venous congestion for worsening of renal function in advanced decompensated heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2009;53(7):589-96.
15. Sorsa T, Heikkinen S, Abbott MB, Abusamhadneh E, Laakso T, Tilgmann C, et al. Binding of levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer, to cardiac troponin C. J Biol Chem. 2001;276(12):9337-43.
16. Toivonen L, Viitasalo M, Sundberg S, Akkila J, Lehtonen L. Electrophysiologic effects of a calcium sensitizer inotrope levosimendan administered intravenously in patients with normal cardiac function. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2000;35(4):664-9.
17. Yontar OC, Yalta K, Yilmaz MB. Superiority of levosimendan over dobutamine in right ventricle failure. Crit Care Med. 2010;38(1):342-3.
18. Damman K, Voors AA. Levosimendan improves renal function in acute decompensated heart failure: cause and clinical application. Editorial to: "Levosimendan improves renal function in patients with acute decompensated heart failure: comparison with dobutamine by Yilmaz et al.". Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2007;21(6):403-4.
19. Parissis JT, Paraskevaidis I, Bistola V, Farmakis D, Panou F, Kourea K, et al. Effects of levosimendan on right ventricular function in patients with advanced heart failure. Am J Cardiol. 2006;98(11):1489-92.
20. Waikar SS, Bonventre JV. Biomarkers for the diagnosis of acute kidney injury. Nephron Clin Pract. 2008;109(4):c192-7.
21. Puttonen J, Kantele S, Kivikko M, Häkkinen S, Harjola VP, Koskinen P, et al. Effect of severe renal failure and haemodialysis on the pharmacokinetics of levosimendan and its metabolites. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2007;46(3):235-46.
22. Moyano AP, Hidalgo RL, Grande DB, Morales SC. [Use of levosimendan in acute heart failure and its effect on renal function]. Nefrologia. 2009;29(6):616-7.
23. Yakut N, Yasa H, Bahriye Lafci B, Ortac R, Tulukoglu E, Aksun M, et al. The influence of levosimendan and iloprost on renal ischemia-reperfusion: an experimental study. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2008;7(2):235-9.
24. Zemljic G, Bunc M, Yazdanbakhsh AP, Vrtovec B. Levosimendan improves renal function in patients with advanced chronic heart failure awaiting cardiac transplantation. J Card Fail. 2007;13(6):417-21.

Correspondência:

Osman Can Yontar

Sivas Numune Hastanesi, Kardiyoloji Klinik, Sivas-Turkiye – 58070 – Sivas, Turkey

E-mail:

drcanyontar@gmail.com

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
29 May 2012
Date of issue
June 2012

History

Received
23 Aug 2011
Accepted
17 Feb 2012
Reviewed
23 Aug 2011

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] 1. Smith GL, Vaccarino V, Kosiborod M, Lichtman JH, Cheng S, Watnick SG, et al. Worsening renal function: what is a clinically meaningful change in creatinine during hospitalization with heart failure? J Card Fail. 2003;9(1):13-25.

[2] 2. Hillege HL, Nitsch D, Pfeffer MA, Swedberg K, McMurray JJ, Yusuf S, et al. Renal function as a predictor of outcome in a broad spectrum of patients with heart failure. Circulation. 2006;113(5):671-8.

[3] 3. Ronco C, Haapio M, House AA, Anavekar N, Bellomo R. Cardiorenal syndrome. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;52(19):1527-39.

[4] 4. Bocchi EA, Vilas-Boas F, Moreira Mda C, Barretto AC, Lage S, Albuquerque D, et al; Investigators of BELIEF Study; Heart Failure Working Group of Brazilian Society of Cardiology. Levosimendan in decompensated heart failure patients: efficacy in a Brazilian cohort. Results of the BELIEF study. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2008;90(3):182-90.

[5] 5. Yilmaz MB, Yontar C, Erdem A, Karadas F, Yalta K, Turgut OO, et al. Comparative effects of levosimendan and dobutamine on right ventricular function in patients with biventricular heart failure. Heart Vessels. 2009;24(1):16-21.

[6] 6. Mebazaa A, Nieminen MS, Filippatos GS, Cleland JG, Salon JE, Thakkar R, et al. Levosimendan vs. dobutamine: outcomes for acute heart failure patients on beta-blockers in SURVIVE. Eur J Heart Fail. 2009;11(3):304-11

[7] 7. Yilmaz MB, Yalta K, Yontar C, Karadas F, Erdem A, Turgut OO, et al. Levosimendan improves renal function in patients with acute decompensated heart failure: comparison with dobutamine. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2007;21(6):431-5.

[8] 8. Pataricza J, Krassói I, Hohn J, Kun A, Papp JG. Functional role of potassium channels in the vasodilating mechanism of levosimendan in porcine isolated coronary artery. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2003;17(2):115-21.

[9] 9. Paraskevaidis IA, Parissis JT, Th Kremastinos D. Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of levosimendan in decompansated heart failure: a novel mechanism of drug-induced improvement in contractile performance of the failing heart. Curr Med Chem Cardiovasc Hematol Agents. 2005;3(3):243-7.

[10] 10. Zager RA, Johnson AC, Lund S, Hanson SY, Abrass CK. Levosimendan protects against experimental endotoxemic acute renal failure. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2006;290(6):F1453-62.

[11] 11. Parissis JT, Farmakis D, Kremastinos DT. Anti-inflammatory effects of levosimendan in decompensated heart failure: impact on weight loss and anemia. Am J Cardiol. 2005;95(7):923-4.

[12] 12. O’Meara E, Chong KS, Gardner RS, Jardine AG, Neilly JB, McDonagh TA. The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equations provide valid estimations of glomerular filtration rates in patients with advanced heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail. 2006;8(1):63-7.

[13] 13. Cowie MR, Komajda M, Murray-Thomas T, Underwood J, Ticho B; POSH Investigators. Prevalence and impact of worsening renal function in patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure: results of the prospective outcomes study in heart failure (POSH). Eur Heart J. 2006;27(10):1216-22.

[14] 14. Mullens W, Abrahams Z, Francis GS, Sokos G, Taylor DO, Starling RC, et al. Importance of venous congestion for worsening of renal function in advanced decompensated heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2009;53(7):589-96.

[15] 15. Sorsa T, Heikkinen S, Abbott MB, Abusamhadneh E, Laakso T, Tilgmann C, et al. Binding of levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer, to cardiac troponin C. J Biol Chem. 2001;276(12):9337-43.

[16] 16. Toivonen L, Viitasalo M, Sundberg S, Akkila J, Lehtonen L. Electrophysiologic effects of a calcium sensitizer inotrope levosimendan administered intravenously in patients with normal cardiac function. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2000;35(4):664-9.

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Effect of levosimendan in patients with severe systolic heart failure and worsening renal function

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