Early Effect of Levosimendan in Systolic and Diastolic Parameters

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure (HF) is still one of the important causes of both mortality and recurrent hospitalization. Levosimendan is an important agent that reduces these outcomes in decompensated HF. We aimed to share the effects of levosimendan on various echocardiographic parameters and systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle in the early period.
METHODS: Twenty patients with stage IV heart failure (ischemic or non-ischemic) according to NYHA, with resting blood pressure >100 mmHg, left ventricular ejection fraction <35%, and clinically unstable despite conventional therapy were included in the study. Before starting levosimendan, left and right ventricular systolic and diastolic functions and coronary flows were examined in echocardiography. The same echocardiographic parameters were re-examined in all patients 24 hours after levosimendan treatment.
RESULTS: When we made the evaluations, it was observed that systolic functions improved in the early period after levosimendan, but it was observed that the improvement in diastolic functions did not occur in the early period.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Since the echocardiographic evaluation was performed only 24 hours after levosimendan, it was considered necessary to re-examine the tests after 7 days, especially to evaluate the tests evaluating diastolic functions.