1
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Silvetti S, Pollesello P, Belletti A. Repeated Levosimendan Infusions in the Management of Advanced Heart Failure: Review of the Evidence and Meta-analysis of the Effect on Mortality. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2024; 83:144-157. [PMID: 37991393 PMCID: PMC10842679 DOI: 10.1097/fjc.0000000000001506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT In the latest years, several studies described the impact of repetitive/intermittent i.v. levosimendan treatment in the management of advanced heart failure. For this updated review, we systematically searched the literature for clinical trials, registries , and real-world data and identified 31 studies that we commented in a narrative review: 3814 patients were described, of whom 1744 were treated repetitively with levosimendan. On the basis of the nature of the study protocols and of the end points, out of those studies, we further selected 9 that had characteristics, making them suitable for a meta-analysis on mortality. This short list describes data from 680 patients (of whom 399 received repeated doses of levosimendan) and 110 death events (of which 50 occurred in the levosimendan cohort). In the meta-analysis, repetitive/intermittent therapy with i.v. levosimendan was associated with a significant reduction in mortality at the longest time point available: 50 of 399 (12.5%) versus 60 of 281 (21.4%) in the control arms, with a risk ratio of 0.62 (95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.90; P < 0.01). In a sensitivity analysis, removing each trial and reanalyzing the remaining data set did not change the trend, magnitude, or significance of the results. A visual inspection of the funnel plot did not suggest publication bias. The results provide a very strong rationale for continuing to investigate the repetitive use of levosimendan in patients with advanced heart failure by properly powered regulatory clinical trials. Meanwhile, it seems that the use of repetitive/intermittent i.v. levosimendan infusions has become one of the few effective options for preserving the hemodynamic and symptomatic balance in such patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Silvetti
- Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Critical Care and Perinatal Medicine, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Belletti
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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2
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Garascia A, Palazzini M, Tedeschi A, Sacco A, Oliva F, Gentile P. Advanced heart failure: from definitions to therapeutic options. Eur Heart J Suppl 2023; 25:C283-C291. [PMID: 37125285 PMCID: PMC10132575 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartjsupp/suad028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Advanced heart failure (AHF) represents an ominous stage of heart failure (HF), where the expected prognosis remains poor regardless of the improvement in medical knowledge. In this review, we summarize the definition, prognosis, physiopathology, and clinical/therapeutic management of the disease, focusing on the fast and timely referral of the patient to the AHF facilities. We provide an insight of the diagnostic and therapeutic 'work up' performed in an Italian AHF hub, implying a deep phenotypical patients characterization in order to evaluate candidacy to the therapeutic gold standards as heart transplantation (HTx) and left ventricular assist device (LVAD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Garascia
- De Gasperis Cardio Center, Ospedale Niguarda, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, Milano, Italia
| | - Matteo Palazzini
- De Gasperis Cardio Center, Ospedale Niguarda, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, Milano, Italia
| | - Andrea Tedeschi
- De Gasperis Cardio Center, Ospedale Niguarda, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, Milano, Italia
| | - Alice Sacco
- De Gasperis Cardio Center, Ospedale Niguarda, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, Milano, Italia
| | - Fabrizio Oliva
- De Gasperis Cardio Center, Ospedale Niguarda, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, Milano, Italia
| | - Piero Gentile
- Corresponding author. Tel: +39 02 6444 7791, Fax: +39 02 6444 2566,
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3
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Akhtar MS, Hassan MQ, Siddiqui A, Alavudeen SS, Afzal O, Altamimi ASA, Rahman SO, Khurana M, Ahsan MJ, Sharma AK, Tabassum F. Levosimendan: mechanistic insight and its diverse future aspects in cardiac care. Acta Cardiol 2022; 78:170-187. [PMID: 36222590 DOI: 10.1080/00015385.2022.2115761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Inotropic agents are generally recommended to use in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) concurrent to end-organ dysfunction. However, due to certain pharmacological limitations like developing life threatening arrhythmia and tolerance, cannot be employed as much as needed. Meanwhile, Calcium ion (Ca2+) sensitisers exhibits their inotropic action by increasing the sensitivity of the cardiomyocyte to intracellular Ca2+ ion and have been reported as emerging therapeutic alternative in HF cases. Levosimendan (LEVO) is an inodilator and with its unique pharmacology justifying its use in a wide range of cardiac alterations in HF particularly in undergoing cardiac surgery. It is also reported to be better than classical inotropes in maintaining cardiac mechanical efficacy and reducing congestion in acute HF with hypotension. This review paper was designed to compile various evidence about basic pharmacology and potential clinical aspects of LEVO in cardiac surgery and other HF associated alterations. This will benefit directly to the researcher in initiating research and to fill the gaps in the area of thrust.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Md Quamrul Hassan
- Department of Pharmacology, SNS College of Pharmacy, Motihari, India
| | - Aisha Siddiqui
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Obaid Afzal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmalik S A Altamimi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Syed Obaidur Rahman
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Mallika Khurana
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Mohamed Jawed Ahsan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Maharishi Arvind College of Pharmacy, Jaipur, India
| | - Arun Kumar Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Noida, India
| | - Fauzia Tabassum
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Dentistry and Pharmacy, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
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4
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The importance of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic and repetitive use of levosimendan. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 153:113391. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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5
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Tomasoni D, Vishram-Nielsen JKK, Pagnesi M, Adamo M, Lombardi CM, Gustafsson F, Metra M. Advanced heart failure: guideline-directed medical therapy, diuretics, inotropes, and palliative care. ESC Heart Fail 2022; 9:1507-1523. [PMID: 35352499 PMCID: PMC9065830 DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.13859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of mortality, hospitalizations, and reduced quality of life and a major burden for the healthcare system. The number of patients that progress to an advanced stage of HF is growing. Only a limited proportion of these patients can undergo heart transplantation or mechanical circulatory support. The purpose of this review is to summarize medical management of patients with advanced HF. First, evidence-based oral treatment must be implemented although it is often not tolerated. New therapeutic options may soon become possible for these patients. The second goal is to lessen the symptomatic burden through both decongestion and haemodynamic improvement. Some new treatments acting on cardiac function may fulfil both these needs. Inotropic agents acting through an increase in intracellular calcium have often increased risk of death. However, in the recent Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac Outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC-HF) trial, omecamtiv mecarbil was safe and effective in the reduction of the primary outcome of cardiovascular death or HF event compared with placebo (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-0.99; P = 0.03) and its effects were larger in those patients with more severe left ventricular dysfunction. Patients with severe HF who received omecamtiv mecarbil experienced a significant treatment benefit, whereas patients without severe HF did not (P = 0.005 for interaction). Lastly, clinicians should take care of the end of life with an appropriate multidisciplinary approach. Medical treatment of advanced HF therefore remains a major challenge and a wide open area for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Tomasoni
- Cardiology, Cardio-thoracic Department, Civil Hospitals and Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Matteo Pagnesi
- Cardiology, Cardio-thoracic Department, Civil Hospitals and Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marianna Adamo
- Cardiology, Cardio-thoracic Department, Civil Hospitals and Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Carlo Mario Lombardi
- Cardiology, Cardio-thoracic Department, Civil Hospitals and Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Finn Gustafsson
- Department of Cardiology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marco Metra
- Cardiology, Cardio-thoracic Department, Civil Hospitals and Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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6
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Vishram-Nielsen JKK, Tomasoni D, Gustafsson F, Metra M. Contemporary Drug Treatment of Advanced Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction. Drugs 2022; 82:375-405. [PMID: 35113350 PMCID: PMC8820365 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-021-01666-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The introduction of multiple new pharmacological agents over the past three decades in the field of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has led to reduced rates of mortality and hospitalizations, and consequently the prevalence of HFrEF has increased, and up to 10% of patients progress to more advanced stages, characterized by high rates of mortality, hospitalizations, and poor quality of life. Advanced HFrEF patients often show persistent or progressive signs of severe HF symptoms corresponding to New York Heart Association class III or IV despite being on optimal medical, surgical, and device therapies. However, a subpopulation of patients with advanced HF, those with the most advanced stages of disease, were often insufficiently represented in the major trials demonstrating efficacy and tolerability of the drugs used in HFrEF due to exclusion criteria such as low BP and kidney dysfunction. Consequently, the results of many landmark trials cannot necessarily be transferred to patients with the most advanced stages of HFrEF. Thus, the efficacy and tolerability of guideline-directed medical therapies in patients with the most advanced stages of HFrEF often remain unsettled, and this knowledge is of crucial importance in the planning and timing of consideration for referral for advanced therapies. This review discusses the evidence regarding the use of contemporary drugs in the advanced HFrEF population, covering components such as guideline HFrEF drugs, diuretics, inotropes, and the use of HFrEF drugs in LVAD recipients, and provides suggestions on how to manage guideline-directed therapy in this patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniela Tomasoni
- Cardiology, ASST Spedali Civili, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Finn Gustafsson
- Department of Cardiology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marco Metra
- Cardiology, ASST Spedali Civili, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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7
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Maiello C, Cacciatore F, Amarelli C, Palmieri V, Golino P. Repetitive levosimendan in outpatients affected by advanced heart failure: the need for a uniform approach. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) 2021; 22:149. [PMID: 32858638 DOI: 10.2459/jcm.0000000000001090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ciro Maiello
- Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantation, Heart Transplantation Unit in Adults of the 'Ospedali dei Colli Monaldi-Cotugno-CTO'
| | - Francesco Cacciatore
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences and Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, 'Federico II' University of Naples
| | - Cristiano Amarelli
- Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantation, Heart Transplantation Unit in Adults of the 'Ospedali dei Colli Monaldi-Cotugno-CTO'
| | - Vittorio Palmieri
- Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantation, Heart Transplantation Unit in Adults of the 'Ospedali dei Colli Monaldi-Cotugno-CTO'
| | - Paolo Golino
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology Unit of the 'L. Vanvitelli' University of Campania at the 'Ospedali dei Colli Monaldi-Cotugno-CTO', Naples, Italy
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8
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Levosimendan as a bridge to heart transplant in a 16-year-old patient with univentricular heart. Cardiol Young 2020; 30:1504-1506. [PMID: 32698938 DOI: 10.1017/s104795112000219x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We report the successful use of levosimendan in the treatment of heart failure in a patient with the univentricular heart. The presented case was atypical because our patient had systemic right ventricle. To our knowledge, it is the first reported such case with intermittent levosimendan administration as an effective treatment and bridge to successful heart transplant in a patient with functionally univentricular heart.
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9
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Papp Z, Agostoni P, Alvarez J, Bettex D, Bouchez S, Brito D, Černý V, Comin-Colet J, Crespo-Leiro MG, Delgado JF, Édes I, Eremenko AA, Farmakis D, Fedele F, Fonseca C, Fruhwald S, Girardis M, Guarracino F, Harjola VP, Heringlake M, Herpain A, Heunks LM, Husebye T, Ivancan V, Karason K, Kaul S, Kivikko M, Kubica J, Masip J, Matskeplishvili S, Mebazaa A, Nieminen MS, Oliva F, Papp JG, Parissis J, Parkhomenko A, Põder P, Pölzl G, Reinecke A, Ricksten SE, Riha H, Rudiger A, Sarapohja T, Schwinger RH, Toller W, Tritapepe L, Tschöpe C, Wikström G, von Lewinski D, Vrtovec B, Pollesello P. Levosimendan Efficacy and Safety: 20 years of SIMDAX in Clinical Use. Card Fail Rev 2020; 6:e19. [PMID: 32714567 PMCID: PMC7374352 DOI: 10.15420/cfr.2020.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Levosimendan was first approved for clinic use in 2000, when authorisation was granted by Swedish regulatory authorities for the haemodynamic stabilisation of patients with acutely decompensated chronic heart failure. In the ensuing 20 years, this distinctive inodilator, which enhances cardiac contractility through calcium sensitisation and promotes vasodilatation through the opening of adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium channels on vascular smooth muscle cells, has been approved in more than 60 jurisdictions, including most of the countries of the European Union and Latin America. Areas of clinical application have expanded considerably and now include cardiogenic shock, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, advanced heart failure, right ventricular failure and pulmonary hypertension, cardiac surgery, critical care and emergency medicine. Levosimendan is currently in active clinical evaluation in the US. Levosimendan in IV formulation is being used as a research tool in the exploration of a wide range of cardiac and non-cardiac disease states. A levosimendan oral form is at present under evaluation in the management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. To mark the 20 years since the advent of levosimendan in clinical use, 51 experts from 23 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and Ukraine) contributed to this essay, which evaluates one of the relatively few drugs to have been successfully introduced into the acute heart failure arena in recent times and charts a possible development trajectory for the next 20 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltán Papp
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Piergiuseppe Agostoni
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS Milan, Italy
| | - Julian Alvarez
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Dominique Bettex
- Institute of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Bouchez
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dulce Brito
- Cardiology Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitario Lisboa Norte, CCUI, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vladimir Černý
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine and Intensive Care, Masaryk Hospital, J.E. Purkinje University Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Josep Comin-Colet
- Heart Diseases Institute, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marisa G Crespo-Leiro
- Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), CIBERCV, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica A Coruña (INIBIC), Universidad de a Coruña (UDC) La Coruña, Spain
| | - Juan F Delgado
- Heart Failure and Transplant Program, Cardiology Department, University Hospital 12 Octubre Madrid, Spain
| | - Istvan Édes
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Alexander A Eremenko
- Department of Cardiac Intensive Care, Petrovskii National Research Centre of Surgery, Sechenov University Moscow, Russia
| | - Dimitrios Farmakis
- Department of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Cyprus Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Francesco Fedele
- Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrology, Anaesthesiology and Geriatric Sciences, La Sapienza University of Rome Rome, Italy
| | - Cândida Fonseca
- Heart Failure Clinic, São Francisco Xavier Hospital, CHLO Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sonja Fruhwald
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Division of Anaesthesiology for Cardiovascular Surgery and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Graz Graz, Austria
| | - Massimo Girardis
- Struttura Complessa di Anestesia 1, Policlinico di Modena Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Guarracino
- Dipartimento di Anestesia e Terapie Intensive, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana Pisa, Italy
| | - Veli-Pekka Harjola
- Emergency Medicine, Meilahti Central University Hospital, University of Helsinki Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matthias Heringlake
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Lübeck Lübeck, Germany
| | - Antoine Herpain
- Department of Intensive Care, Hôpital Erasme Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo Ma Heunks
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tryggve Husebye
- Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital Ullevaal Oslo, Norway
| | - Višnja Ivancan
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Reanimatology and Intensive Care, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Kristjan Karason
- Departments of Cardiology and Transplantation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sundeep Kaul
- Intensive Care Unit, National Health Service Leeds, UK
| | - Matti Kivikko
- Global Medical Affairs, R&D, Orion Pharma Espoo, Finland
| | - Janek Kubica
- Department of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University Torun, Poland
| | - Josep Masip
- Intensive Care Department, Consorci Sanitari Integral, University of Barcelona Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Alexandre Mebazaa
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, AP-HP, Saint Louis and Lariboisière University Hospitals Paris, France
| | | | - Fabrizio Oliva
- Department of Cardiology, Niguarda Ca'Granda Hospital Milan, Italy
| | - Julius-Gyula Papp
- MTA-SZTE Research Group of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, University of Szeged Szeged, Hungary
| | - John Parissis
- Second Department of Cardiology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens, Greece
| | - Alexander Parkhomenko
- Emergency Cardiology Department, National Scientific Centre MD Strazhesko Institute of Cardiology Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Pentti Põder
- Department of Cardiology, North Estonia Medical Centre Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Gerhard Pölzl
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology and Angiology, Medical University of Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexander Reinecke
- Klinik für Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Kiel, Germany
| | - Sven-Erik Ricksten
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Hynek Riha
- Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alain Rudiger
- Department of Medicine, Spittal Limmattal Schlieren, Switzerland
| | | | - Robert Hg Schwinger
- Medizinische Klinik II, Klinikum Weiden, Teaching Hospital of University of Regensburg Weiden, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Toller
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Graz Graz, Austria
| | - Luigi Tritapepe
- Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Division, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital Rome, Italy
| | - Carsten Tschöpe
- Department of Cardiology, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerhard Wikström
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dirk von Lewinski
- Department of Cardiology, Myokardiale Energetik und Metabolismus Research Unit, Medical University of Graz Graz, Austria
| | - Bojan Vrtovec
- Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation Centre, Department of Cardiology, University Clinical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia
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10
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Papp Z, Agostoni P, Alvarez J, Bettex D, Bouchez S, Brito D, Černý V, Comin-Colet J, Crespo-Leiro MG, Delgado JF, Édes I, Eremenko AA, Farmakis D, Fedele F, Fonseca C, Fruhwald S, Girardis M, Guarracino F, Harjola VP, Heringlake M, Herpain A, Heunks LMA, Husebye T, Ivancan V, Karason K, Kaul S, Kivikko M, Kubica J, Masip J, Matskeplishvili S, Mebazaa A, Nieminen MS, Oliva F, Papp JG, Parissis J, Parkhomenko A, Põder P, Pölzl G, Reinecke A, Ricksten SE, Riha H, Rudiger A, Sarapohja T, Schwinger RHG, Toller W, Tritapepe L, Tschöpe C, Wikström G, von Lewinski D, Vrtovec B, Pollesello P. Levosimendan Efficacy and Safety: 20 Years of SIMDAX in Clinical Use. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2020; 76:4-22. [PMID: 32639325 PMCID: PMC7340234 DOI: 10.1097/fjc.0000000000000859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Levosimendan was first approved for clinical use in 2000, when authorization was granted by Swedish regulatory authorities for the hemodynamic stabilization of patients with acutely decompensated chronic heart failure (HF). In the ensuing 20 years, this distinctive inodilator, which enhances cardiac contractility through calcium sensitization and promotes vasodilatation through the opening of adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium channels on vascular smooth muscle cells, has been approved in more than 60 jurisdictions, including most of the countries of the European Union and Latin America. Areas of clinical application have expanded considerably and now include cardiogenic shock, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, advanced HF, right ventricular failure, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac surgery, critical care, and emergency medicine. Levosimendan is currently in active clinical evaluation in the United States. Levosimendan in IV formulation is being used as a research tool in the exploration of a wide range of cardiac and noncardiac disease states. A levosimendan oral form is at present under evaluation in the management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. To mark the 20 years since the advent of levosimendan in clinical use, 51 experts from 23 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine) contributed to this essay, which evaluates one of the relatively few drugs to have been successfully introduced into the acute HF arena in recent times and charts a possible development trajectory for the next 20 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltán Papp
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Piergiuseppe Agostoni
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Julian Alvarez
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Dominique Bettex
- Institute of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Bouchez
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dulce Brito
- Cardiology Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitario Lisboa Norte, CCUI, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vladimir Černý
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine and Intensive Care, Masaryk Hospital, J.E. Purkinje University, Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Josep Comin-Colet
- Heart Diseases Institute, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marisa G. Crespo-Leiro
- Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), CIBERCV, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica A Coruña (INIBIC), Universidad de a Coruña (UDC), La Coruña, Spain
| | - Juan F. Delgado
- Heart Failure and Transplant Program, Cardiology Department, University Hospital 12 Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - István Édes
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Alexander A. Eremenko
- Department of Cardiac Intensive Care, Petrovskii National Research Centre of Surgery, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dimitrios Farmakis
- Department of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Francesco Fedele
- Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrology, Anaesthesiology and Geriatric Sciences, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cândida Fonseca
- Heart Failure Clinic, São Francisco Xavier Hospital, CHLO, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sonja Fruhwald
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Division of Anaesthesiology for Cardiovascular Surgery and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Massimo Girardis
- Struttura Complessa di Anestesia 1, Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Guarracino
- Dipartimento di Anestesia e Terapie Intensive, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Veli-Pekka Harjola
- Emergency Medicine, Meilahti Central University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matthias Heringlake
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Antoine Herpain
- Department of Intensive Care, Hôpital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo M. A. Heunks
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tryggve Husebye
- Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital Ullevaal, Oslo, Norway
| | - Višnja Ivancan
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Reanimatology and Intensive Care, University Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Kristjan Karason
- Departments of Cardiology and Transplantation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sundeep Kaul
- Intensive Care Unit, National Health Service, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Matti Kivikko
- Global Medical Affairs, R&D, Orion Pharma, Espoo, Finland
| | - Janek Kubica
- Department of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
| | - Josep Masip
- Intensive Care Department, Consorci Sanitari Integral, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Alexandre Mebazaa
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, AP-HP, Saint Louis and Lariboisière University Hospitals, Paris, France
| | | | - Fabrizio Oliva
- Department of Cardiology, Niguarda Ca'Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Julius G. Papp
- MTA-SZTE Research Group of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - John Parissis
- Second Department of Cardiology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Alexander Parkhomenko
- Emergency Cardiology Department, National Scientific Centre MD Strazhesko Institute of Cardiology, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Pentti Põder
- Department of Cardiology, North Estonia Medical Centre, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Gerhard Pölzl
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology and Angiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexander Reinecke
- Klinik für Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sven-Erik Ricksten
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Hynek Riha
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alain Rudiger
- Department of Medicine, Spittal Limmattal, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | | | - Robert H. G. Schwinger
- Medizinische Klinik II, Klinikum Weiden, Teaching Hospital of University of Regensburg, Weiden, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Toller
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Luigi Tritapepe
- Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Division, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Carsten Tschöpe
- Department of Cardiology, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité—University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerhard Wikström
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dirk von Lewinski
- Department of Cardiology, Myokardiale Energetik und Metabolismus Research Unit, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Bojan Vrtovec
- Department of Cardiology, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation Centre, University Clinical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Piero Pollesello
- Critical Care Proprietary Products, Orion Pharma, Espoo, Finland.
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11
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Cranley J, Hardiman A, Freeman LJ. Pulsed Levosimendan in advanced heart failure due to congenital heart disease: a case series. Eur Heart J Case Rep 2020; 4:1-6. [PMID: 32617515 PMCID: PMC7319860 DOI: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytaa080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Levosimendan is a non-adrenergic calcium-sensitizing agent with positive inotropic and vasodilatory effects. Its use in acute decompensation of heart failure is established. Good evidence now exists for repetitive infusions of Levosimendan to improve symptoms and reduce hospitalization in advanced heart failure (AdHF) populations. Its use in heart failure resulting from congenital heart disease is not yet commonplace. CASE SUMMARY We present three cases in which pulsed Levosimendan was used in the management of AdHF secondary to underlying congenital heart disease. There was symptomatic and biomarker evidence of improvement. DISCUSSION Intermittent Levosimendan may represent a valuable therapy to reduce hospitalization and improve quality of life in adults with congenital heart conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Cranley
- Cardiology Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, UK
| | - Antonia Hardiman
- Cardiology Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, UK
| | - Leisa J Freeman
- Cardiology Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, UK
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12
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Guarracino F, Zima E, Pollesello P, Masip J. Short-term treatments for acute cardiac care: inotropes and inodilators. Eur Heart J Suppl 2020; 22:D3-D11. [PMID: 32431568 PMCID: PMC7225903 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/suaa090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Acute heart failure (AHF) continues to be a substantial cause of illness and death, with in-hospital and 3-month mortality rates of 5% and 10%, respectively, and 6-month re-admission rates in excess of 50% in a range of clinical trials and registry studies; the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Heart Failure Long-Term Registry recorded a 1-year death or rehospitalization rate of 36%. As regards the short-term treatment of AHF patients, evidence was collected in the ESC Heart Failure Long-Term Registry that intravenous (i.v.) treatments are administered heterogeneously in the critical phase, with limited reference to guideline recommendations. Moreover, recent decades have been characterized by a prolonged lack of successful innovation in this field, with a plethora of clinical trials generating neutral or inconclusive findings on long-term mortality effects from a multiplicity of short-term interventions in AHF. One of the few exceptions has been the calcium sensitizer and inodilator levosimendan, introduced 20 years ago for the treatment of acutely decompensated chronic heart failure. In the present review, we will focus on the utility of this agent in the wider context of i.v. inotropic and inodilating therapies for AHF and related pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Guarracino
- Dipartimento di Anestesia e Terapie Intensive, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Endre Zima
- Cardiac Intensive Care, Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Piero Pollesello
- Critical Care Proprietary Products, CO, Orion Pharma, PO Box 65, FIN-02101 Espoo, Finland
| | - Josep Masip
- Intensive Care Department, Consorci Sanitari Integral, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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13
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García Pinilla JM, Díez-Villanueva P, Bover Freire R, Formiga F, Cobo Marcos M, Bonanad C, Crespo Leiro MG, Ruiz García J, Díaz Molina B, Enjuanes Grau C, García L, Rexach L, Esteban A, Martínez-Sellés M. Documento de consenso y recomendaciones sobre cuidados paliativos en insuficiencia cardiaca de las Secciones de Insuficiencia Cardiaca y Cardiología Geriátrica de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Rev Esp Cardiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.recesp.2019.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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14
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Wang A, Cui C, Fan Y, Zi J, Zhang J, Wang G, Wang F, Wang J, Tan Q. Prophylactic use of levosimendan in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a prospective randomized controlled trial. Crit Care 2019; 23:428. [PMID: 31888711 PMCID: PMC6937718 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-019-2704-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The administration of levosimendan prophylactically to patients undergoing cardiac surgery remains a controversial practice, and few studies have specifically assessed the value of this approach in pediatric patients. This study therefore sought to explore the safety and efficacy of prophylactic levosimendan administration to pediatric patients as a means of preventing low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) based upon hemodynamic, biomarker, and pharmacokinetic readouts. METHODS This was a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Patients ≤ 48 months old were enrolled between July 2018 and April 2019 and were randomly assigned to groups that received either placebo or levosimendan infusions for 48 h post-surgery, along with all other standard methods of care. LCOS incidence was the primary outcome of this study. RESULTS A total of 187 patients were enrolled, of whom 94 and 93 received levosimendan and placebo, respectively. LCOS incidence did not differ significantly between the levosimendan and placebo groups (10 [10.6%] versus 18 [19.4%] patients, respectively; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19-1.13; p = 0.090) nor did 90-day mortality (3 [3.2%] versus 4 [4.3%] patients, CI 0.14-3.69, p = 0.693), duration of mechanical ventilation (median, 47.5 h and 39.5 h, respectively; p = 0.532), ICU stay (median, 114.5 h and 118 h, respectively; p = 0.442), and hospital stay (median, 20 days and 20 days, respectively; p = 0.806). The incidence of hypotension and cardiac arrhythmia did not differ significantly between the groups. Levels of levosimendan fell rapidly without any plateau in plasma concentrations during infusion. A multiple logistic regression indicated that randomization to the levosimendan group was a predictor of LCOS. CONCLUSIONS Prophylactic levosimendan administration was safe in pediatric patients and had some benefit to postoperative hemodynamic parameters, but failed to provide significant benefit with respect to LCOS or 90-day mortality relative to placebo. TRIAL REGISTRATION Name of the registry: Safety evaluation and therapeutic effect of levosimendan on the low cardiac output syndrome in patients after cardiopulmonary bypass. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ChiCTR1800016594. Date of registration: 11 June 2018. URL of trial registry record: http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anbiao Wang
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Department of Cardiac Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, No. 9677 Jingshi Road, Jinan, 250021 China
| | - Chaomei Cui
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Department of Cardiac Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, No. 9677 Jingshi Road, Jinan, 250021 China
| | - Yiou Fan
- Department of Toxicological and Functional Test, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Shandong, Jinan, 250014 China
| | - Jie Zi
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Department of Cardiac Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, No. 9677 Jingshi Road, Jinan, 250021 China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Department of Cardiac Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, No. 9677 Jingshi Road, Jinan, 250021 China
| | - Guanglai Wang
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Department of Cardiac Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, No. 9677 Jingshi Road, Jinan, 250021 China
| | - Fang Wang
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Department of Cardiac Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, No. 9677 Jingshi Road, Jinan, 250021 China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250021 China
| | - Qi Tan
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Department of Cardiac Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, No. 9677 Jingshi Road, Jinan, 250021 China
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Department of Cardiac Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021 China
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15
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Buttà C, Roberto M, Tuttolomondo A, Petrantoni R, Miceli G, Zappia L, Pinto A. Old and New Drugs for Treatment of Advanced Heart Failure. Curr Pharm Des 2019; 26:1571-1583. [PMID: 31878852 DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666191226165402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advanced heart failure (HF) is a progressive disease with high mortality and limited medical therapeutic options. Long-term mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation remain goldstandard treatments for these patients; however, access to these therapies is limited by the advanced age and multiple comorbidities of affected patients, as well as by the limited number of organs available. METHODS Traditional and new drugs available for the treatment of advanced HF have been researched. RESULTS To date, the cornerstone for the treatment of patients with advanced HF remains water restriction, intravenous loop diuretic therapy and inotropic support. However, many patients with advanced HF experience loop diuretics resistance and alternative therapeutic strategies to overcome this problem have been developed, including sequential nephron blockade or use of the hypertonic saline solution in combination with high-doses of furosemide. As classic inotropes augment myocardial oxygen consumption, new promising drugs have been introduced, including levosimendan, istaroxime and omecamtiv mecarbil. However, pharmacological agents still remain mainly short-term or palliative options in patients with acute decompensation or excluded from mechanical therapy. CONCLUSION Traditional drugs, especially when administered in combination, and new medicaments represent important therapeutic options in advanced HF. However, their impact on prognosis remains unclear. Large trials are necessary to clarify their therapeutic potential and prognostic role in these fragile patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Buttà
- Unità Operativa Complessa, Cardiologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Marco Roberto
- Servizio di Cardiologia, Cardiocentro Ticino Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Antonino Tuttolomondo
- Unità Operativa Complessa, Medicina Interna e con Stroke Care, Dipartimento di Promozione della Salute, Materno-infantile, Medicina Interna e Specialistica di Eccellenza, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Rossella Petrantoni
- Pronto Soccorso, Fondazione Istituto G. Giglio di Cefalù, 90015 Cefalù PA, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Miceli
- Unità Operativa Complessa, Medicina Interna e con Stroke Care, Dipartimento di Promozione della Salute, Materno-infantile, Medicina Interna e Specialistica di Eccellenza, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Luca Zappia
- Unità Operativa Complessa, Cardiologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Antonio Pinto
- Unità Operativa Complessa, Medicina Interna e con Stroke Care, Dipartimento di Promozione della Salute, Materno-infantile, Medicina Interna e Specialistica di Eccellenza, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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16
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Cholley B, Levy B, Fellahi JL, Longrois D, Amour J, Ouattara A, Mebazaa A. Levosimendan in the light of the results of the recent randomized controlled trials: an expert opinion paper. Crit Care 2019; 23:385. [PMID: 31783891 PMCID: PMC6883606 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-019-2674-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite interesting and unique pharmacological properties, levosimendan has not proven a clear superiority to placebo in the patient populations that have been enrolled in the various recent multicenter randomized controlled trials. However, the pharmacodynamic effects of levosimendan are still considered potentially very useful in a number of specific situations.Patients with decompensated heart failure requiring inotropic support and receiving beta-blockers represent the most widely accepted indication. Repeated infusions of levosimendan are increasingly used to facilitate weaning from dobutamine and avoid prolonged hospitalizations in patients with end-stage heart failure, awaiting heart transplantation or left ventricular assist device implantation. New trials are under way to confirm or refute the potential usefulness of levosimendan to facilitate weaning from veno-arterial ECMO, to treat cardiogenic shock due to left or right ventricular failure because the current evidence is mostly retrospective and requires confirmation with better-designed studies. Takotsubo syndrome may represent an ideal target for this non-adrenergic inotrope, but this statement also relies on expert opinion. There is no benefit from levosimendan in patients with septic shock. The two large trials evaluating the prophylactic administration of levosimendan (pharmacological preconditioning) in cardiac surgical patients with poor left ventricular ejection fraction could not show a significant reduction in their composite endpoints reflecting low cardiac output syndrome with respect to placebo. However, the subgroup of those who underwent isolated CABG appeared to have a reduction in mortality. A new study will be required to confirm this exploratory finding.Levosimendan remains a potentially useful inodilator agent in a number of specific situations due to its unique pharmacological properties. More studies are needed to provide a higher level of proof regarding these indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Cholley
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care MedicineP, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France.
- Université Paris Descartes - Université de Paris, Paris, France.
- INSERM UMR_S1140, Paris, France.
| | - Bruno Levy
- CHRU Nancy, Réanimation Médicale Brabois, Vandoeuvre-les Nancy, France
| | - Jean-Luc Fellahi
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Hôpital Cardiologique Louis Pradel, Lyon, France
- INSERM U1060, University Claude Bernard, Lyon, France
| | - Dan Longrois
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, AP-HP, Paris, France
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Julien Amour
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Hôpital de La Pitié Salpêtrière, AP-HP, Paris, France
- University Pierre & Marie Curie, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Ouattara
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Magellan Medico-Surgical Center, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- INSERM, UMR 1034, Biology of Cardiovascular Diseases, Bordeaux, France
| | - Alexandre Mebazaa
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Department of Anesthesia, Burn and Critical Care, Hôpitaux Universitaires Saint Louis Lariboisière, AP-HP, Paris, France
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17
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García Pinilla JM, Díez-Villanueva P, Bover Freire R, Formiga F, Cobo Marcos M, Bonanad C, Crespo Leiro MG, Ruiz García J, Díaz Molina B, Enjuanes Grau C, García L, Rexach L, Esteban A, Martínez-Sellés M. Consensus document and recommendations on palliative care in heart failure of the Heart Failure and Geriatric Cardiology Working Groups of the Spanish Society of Cardiology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 73:69-77. [PMID: 31761573 DOI: 10.1016/j.rec.2019.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Heart failure is a complex entity, with high morbidity and mortality. The clinical course and outcome are uncertain and difficult to predict. This document, instigated by the Heart Failure and Geriatric Cardiology Working Groups of the Spanish Society of Cardiology, addresses various aspects related to palliative care, where most cardiovascular disease will eventually converge. The document also establishes a consensus and a series of recommendations with the aim of recognizing and understanding the need to implement and progressively apply palliative care throughout the course of the disease, not only in the advanced stages, thus improving the care provided and quality of life. The purpose is to improve and adapt treatment to the needs and wishes of each patient, who must have adequate information and participate in decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Manuel García Pinilla
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Málaga, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ramón Bover Freire
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Clínico Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesc Formiga
- Programa de Geriatría, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Cobo Marcos
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Clara Bonanad
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - María G Crespo Leiro
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Servicio de Cardiología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Juan Ruiz García
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario de Torrejón, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Díaz Molina
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Cristina Enjuanes Grau
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lluisa García
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain
| | - Lourdes Rexach
- Servicio de Geriatría, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Esteban
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario de Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Martínez-Sellés
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
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18
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Farmakis D, Agostoni P, Baholli L, Bautin A, Comin-Colet J, Crespo-Leiro MG, Fedele F, García-Pinilla JM, Giannakoulas G, Grigioni F, Gruchała M, Gustafsson F, Harjola VP, Hasin T, Herpain A, Iliodromitis EK, Karason K, Kivikko M, Liaudet L, Ljubas-Maček J, Marini M, Masip J, Mebazaa A, Nikolaou M, Ostadal P, Põder P, Pollesello P, Polyzogopoulou E, Pölzl G, Tschope C, Varpula M, von Lewinski D, Vrtovec B, Yilmaz MB, Zima E, Parissis J. A pragmatic approach to the use of inotropes for the management of acute and advanced heart failure: An expert panel consensus. Int J Cardiol 2019; 297:83-90. [PMID: 31615650 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2019.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Inotropes aim at increasing cardiac output by enhancing cardiac contractility. They constitute the third pharmacological pillar in the treatment of patients with decompensated heart failure, the other two being diuretics and vasodilators. Three classes of parenterally administered inotropes are currently indicated for decompensated heart failure, (i) the beta adrenergic agonists, including dopamine and dobutamine and also the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine, (ii) the phosphodiesterase III inhibitor milrinone and (iii) the calcium sensitizer levosimendan. These three families of drugs share some pharmacologic traits, but differ profoundly in many of their pleiotropic effects. Identifying the patients in need of inotropic support and selecting the proper inotrope in each case remain challenging. The present consensus, derived by a panel meeting of experts from 21 countries, aims at addressing this very issue in the setting of both acute and advanced heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Farmakis
- University of Cyprus Medical School, Nicosia, Cyprus; Second Department of Cardiology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Piergiuseppe Agostoni
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy; Dept. of Clinical Sciences and Community Health - Cardiovascular Section, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Loant Baholli
- Medizinische Klinik Mitte - Schwerpunkte Kardiologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Klinikum Dortmund gGmbH, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Andrei Bautin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Almazov National Medical Research Center, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Josep Comin-Colet
- Heart Diseases Institute, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Maria G Crespo-Leiro
- Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC)-CIBERCV, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), Universidad de A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Francesco Fedele
- Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrology, Anesthesiology and Geriatric Sciences, 'La Sapienza' University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Jose Manuel García-Pinilla
- Heart Failure and Familial Cardiopathies Unit, Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain
| | | | - Francesco Grigioni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Marcin Gruchała
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Finn Gustafsson
- Cardiology Dept., Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copengahen, Denmark
| | - Veli-Pekka Harjola
- Emergency Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tal Hasin
- Jesselson Integrated Heart Center, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Antoine Herpain
- Department of Intensive Care, Experimental Laboratory of Intensive Care, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Efstathios K Iliodromitis
- Second Department of Cardiology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Kristjan Karason
- Transplant Institute, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Matti Kivikko
- Department of Cardiology S7, Jorvi Hospital, Espoo, Finland; Critical Care Proprietary Products, Orion Pharma, Espoo, Finland
| | - Lucas Liaudet
- Service de Médecine Intensive Adulte et Centre des Brûlés, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois et Faculté de Biologie et Médecine, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jana Ljubas-Maček
- Department for Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospital Center Zagreb, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marco Marini
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy
| | - Josep Masip
- Intensive Care Dpt. Consorci Sanitari Integral, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Cardiology Department, Hospital Sanitas CIMA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alexandre Mebazaa
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, AP-HP, Saint Louis and Lariboisière University Hospitals and INSERM UMR-S 942, Paris, France
| | - Maria Nikolaou
- Department of Cardiology, General Hospital "Sismanogleio-Amalia Fleming", Greece
| | - Petr Ostadal
- Cardiovascular Center, Na Homolce Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pentti Põder
- Department of Cardiology, North Estonia Medical Center, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Piero Pollesello
- Critical Care Proprietary Products, Orion Pharma, Espoo, Finland
| | - Eftihia Polyzogopoulou
- Emergency Department, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Gerhard Pölzl
- Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin III, Medizinsche Universität, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Carsten Tschope
- Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK), Department of Cardiology, Germany; BCRT, Berlin Institute of Health for Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marjut Varpula
- Department of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dirk von Lewinski
- Department of Cardiology, Myokardiale Energetik und Metabolismus Research Unit, Medical University, Graz, Austria
| | - Bojan Vrtovec
- Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation Center, Department of Cardiology, Ljubljana University Medical Center, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mehmet Birhan Yilmaz
- Department of Cardiology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Endre Zima
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - John Parissis
- Second Department of Cardiology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Emergency Department, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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19
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Ahmad T, Miller PE, McCullough M, Desai NR, Riello R, Psotka M, Böhm M, Allen LA, Teerlink JR, Rosano GMC, Lindenfeld J. Why has positive inotropy failed in chronic heart failure? Lessons from prior inotrope trials. Eur J Heart Fail 2019; 21:1064-1078. [PMID: 31407860 PMCID: PMC6774302 DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.1557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Current pharmacological therapies for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction are largely either repurposed anti‐hypertensives that blunt overactivation of the neurohormonal system or diuretics that decrease congestion. However, they do not address the symptoms of heart failure that result from reductions in cardiac output and reserve. Over the last few decades, numerous attempts have been made to develop and test positive cardiac inotropes that improve cardiac haemodynamics. However, definitive clinical trials have failed to show a survival benefit. As a result, no positive inotrope is currently approved for long‐term use in heart failure. The focus of this state‐of‐the‐art review is to revisit prior clinical trials and to understand the causes for their findings. Using the learnings from those experiences, we propose a framework for future trials of such agents that maximizes their potential for success. This includes enriching the trials with patients who are most likely to derive benefit, using biomarkers and imaging in trial design and execution, evaluating efficacy based on a wider range of intermediate phenotypes, and collecting detailed data on functional status and quality of life. With a rapidly growing population of patients with advanced heart failure, the epidemiologic insignificance of heart transplantation as a therapeutic intervention, and both the cost and morbidity associated with ventricular assist devices, there is an enormous potential for positive inotropic therapies to impact the outcomes that matter most to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariq Ahmad
- Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Center for Outcome Research & Evaluation (CORE), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | | | - Nihar R Desai
- Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Center for Outcome Research & Evaluation (CORE), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ralph Riello
- Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Michael Böhm
- Klinik für Innere Medizin III, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg, Germany
| | - Larry A Allen
- Division of Cardiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - John R Teerlink
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Giuseppe M C Rosano
- Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
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20
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Levosimendan: What Have We Learned So Far? CURRENT ANESTHESIOLOGY REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40140-019-00346-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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21
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Pashkovetsky E, Gupta CA, Aronow WS. Use of levosimendan in acute and advanced heart failure: short review on available real-world data. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2019; 15:765-772. [PMID: 31354283 PMCID: PMC6588712 DOI: 10.2147/tcrm.s188761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Published data have shown potential advantages of levosimendan in the management of acute decompensated heart failure and advanced heart failure when standard medical therapies threaten hemodynamics and organ perfusion are unable to alleviate clinical symptoms. Levosimendan distinguishes itself from other catecholaminergic inotropes by its three mechanisms of action: positive inotropy, vasodilation, and cardioprotection. In addition, its pharmacokinetics allow for a longer duration of action from the metabolite OR1896 allowing for further cardiovascular therapeutic effects for several days, even after discontinuation of the parent drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Pashkovetsky
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Westchester Medical Center and New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Chhaya Aggarwal Gupta
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Westchester Medical Center and New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Wilbert S Aronow
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Westchester Medical Center and New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
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22
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Iacovoni A, D'Elia E, Gori M, Oliva F, Lorini FL, Senni M. Treating Patients Following Hospitalisation for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: An Insight into Reducing Early Rehospitalisations. Card Fail Rev 2019; 5:78-82. [PMID: 31179016 PMCID: PMC6545980 DOI: 10.15420/cfr.2018.46.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is a pandemic syndrome characterised by raised morbidity and mortality. An acute HF event requiring hospitalisation is associated with a poor prognosis, in both the short and the long term. Moreover, early rehospitalisation after discharge negatively affects HF management and survival rates. Cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular conditions combine to increase rates of HF hospital readmission at 30 days. A tailored approach for HF pharmacotherapy while the patient is in hospital and immediately after discharge could be useful in reducing early adverse events that cause rehospitalisation and, consequently, prevent worsening HF and readmission during the vulnerable phase after discharge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attilio Iacovoni
- Cardiovascular Department, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Bergamo, Italy
| | - Emilia D'Elia
- Cardiovascular Department, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Bergamo, Italy
| | - Mauro Gori
- Cardiovascular Department, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Bergamo, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Oliva
- Cardiovascular Department, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda Milan, Italy
| | | | - Michele Senni
- Cardiovascular Department, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Bergamo, Italy
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