Levosimendan in Acute and Advanced Heart Failure: An Appraisal of the Clinical Database and Evaluation of Its Therapeutic Applications

Levosimendan as an Antidote in Experimental Calcium Channel Blocker Intoxication

ABSTRACT

The effects of the calcium sensitizer levosimendan on hemodynamics and survival in guinea pigs intoxicated with the calcium blockers verapamil or diltiazem were evaluated in a randomized controlled study. One hundred four animals were randomized to be intoxicated with either verapamil (2.0 mg/kg) or diltiazem (4.5 mg/kg) and thereafter further randomized into 6 groups which received either saline (control), 3 different regimes of levosimendan, calcium chloride, and levosimendan combined with calcium chloride. The hemodynamics and survival of the animals were followed for 60 minutes after intoxication.The negative inotropic effect of calcium blockers was seen as a decrease by over 70% of the positive derivative of the left ventricular pressure. This was reversed by levosimendan. Moreover, both verapamil and diltiazem-induced marked hypotension (-69% and -63% of the baseline value, respectively) which was also reversed by levosimendan. The combined levosimendan and calcium chloride treatment had a synergistic effect in reversing verapamil or diltiazem-induced deterioration in hemodynamics.Both verapamil and diltiazem intoxications decreased the survival rate of guinea pigs to 13%. Levosimendan addition improved survival dose-dependently up to a survival rate of 75% and 88% in the verapamil and diltiazem groups, respectively. Low dose of levosimendan combined with calcium chloride improved survival in verapamil and diltiazem group to 88% and 100%, respectively.In conclusion, the administration of levosimendan improved hemodynamics and survival in calcium channel blocker intoxicated guinea pigs. The synergistic effect of levosimendan and calcium chloride suggests that this combination could be an effective antidote in calcium channel blocker intoxications.

Levosimendan's Effects on Length-Dependent Activation in Murine Fast-Twitch Skeletal Muscle

Levosimendan's calcium sensitizing effects in heart muscle cells are well established; yet, its potential impact on skeletal muscle cells has not been evidently determined. Despite controversial results, levosimendan is still expected to interact with skeletal muscle through off-target sites (further than troponin C). Adding to this debate, we investigated levosimendan's acute impact on fast-twitch skeletal muscle biomechanics in a length-dependent activation study by submersing single muscle fibres in a levosimendan-supplemented solution. We employed our MyoRobot technology to investigate the calcium sensitivity of skinned single muscle fibres alongside their stress-strain response in the presence or absence of levosimendan (100 µM). While control data are in agreement with the theory of length-dependent activation, levosimendan appears to shift the onset of the 'descending limb' of active force generation to longer sarcomere lengths without notably improving myofibrillar calcium sensitivity. Passive stretches in the presence of levosimendan yielded over twice the amount of enlarged restoration stress and Young's modulus in comparison to control single fibres. Both effects have not been described before and may point towards potential off-target sites of levosimendan.

Mitofilin in cardiovascular diseases: Insights into the pathogenesis and potential pharmacological interventions

The impact of mitochondrial dysfunction on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease is increasing. However, the precise underlying mechanism remains unclear. Mitochondria produce cellular energy through oxidative phosphorylation while regulating calcium homeostasis, cellular respiration, and the production of biosynthetic chemicals. Nevertheless, problems related to cardiac energy metabolism, defective mitochondrial proteins, mitophagy, and structural changes in mitochondrial membranes can cause cardiovascular diseases via mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitofilin is a critical inner mitochondrial membrane protein that maintains cristae structure and facilitates protein transport while linking the inner mitochondrial membrane, outer mitochondrial membrane, and mitochondrial DNA transcription. Researchers believe that mitofilin may be a therapeutic target for treating cardiovascular diseases, particularly cardiac mitochondrial dysfunctions. In this review, we highlight current findings regarding the role of mitofilin in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and potential therapeutic compounds targeting mitofilin.

Repeated Levosimendan Infusions in the Management of Advanced Heart Failure: Review of the Evidence and Meta-analysis of the Effect on Mortality

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.

Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: a Pharmacotherapeutic Update

While guidelines for management of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are consensual and have led to improved survival, treatment options for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remain limited and aim primarily for symptom relief and improvement of quality of life. Due to the shortage of therapeutic options, several drugs have been investigated in multiple clinical trials. The majority of these trials have reported disappointing results and have suggested that HFpEF might not be as simply described by ejection fraction as previously though. In fact, HFpEF is a complex clinical syndrome with various comorbidities and overlapping distinct phenotypes that could benefit from personalized therapeutic approaches. This review summarizes the results from the most recent phase III clinical trials for HFpEF and the most promising drugs arising from phase II trials as well as the various challenges that are currently holding back the development of new pharmacotherapeutic options for these patients.

Therapeutic Development of Levosimendan in Acute and Advanced Heart Failure: A Systematic Review

Levosimendan (LS) has been progressively used for the treatment of patients developing acute as well as chronic or advanced cardiac dysfunction. It has proven to be a better inotropic agent than its counterparts in terms of its ability to increase the cardiac output in an acutely or chronically decompensated heart without an increase in the myocardial oxygen demand. The purpose of this systematic review, which was carried out in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020, was to determine the efficacy and advantages of utilizing LS in patients with both acute and chronic heart failure. We collected and reviewed articles, including clinical trials, literature reviews, randomized and non-randomized control trials, case-control and cohort studies, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between January 1, 2012, and November 27, 2022. The databases that were used to collect these articles included Pubmed, Pubmed Central, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. After applying appropriate filters, a total of 143 reports were identified from these four databases. They were further screened and subjected to quality assessment tools which finally yielded 21 studies that were included in this systematic review. This review provides strong evidence that the pharmacological properties and different mechanisms of action of LS give it an upper hand over other inotropic agents for its successful administration in patients with either acute or advanced cardiac failure, which consists of left as well as right ventricular failure, either individually or in combination.

Levosimendan: mechanistic insight and its diverse future aspects in cardiac care

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.

A Holistic View of Advanced Heart Failure

Advanced heart failure (HF) may occur at any level of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF). The latter, which is widely utilized for the evaluation of LV systolic performance and treatment guidance of HF patients, is heavily influenced by LV size and geometry. As the accurate evaluation of ventricular systolic function and size is crucial in patients with advanced HF, the LVEF should be supplemented or even replaced by more specific indices of LV function such as the systolic strain and cardiac power output and size such as the LV diastolic diameters and volumes. Conventional treatment (cause eradication, medications, devices) is often poorly tolerated and fails and advanced treatment (mechanical circulatory support [MCS], heart transplantation [HTx]) is required. The effectiveness of MCS is heavily dependent on heart size, whereas HTx which is effective in the vast majority of the cases is limited by the small donor pool. Expanding the MCS indications to include patients with small ventricles as well as the HTx donor pool are major challenges in the management of advanced HF.

The Adenylate Cyclase Activator Forskolin Potentiates the Positive Inotropic Effect of the Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor Milrinone But Not of the Calcium Sensitizer Levosimendan nor of Its Hemodynamically Active Metabolites: An Apparent Conundrum

ABSTRACT

OR-1855 and OR-1896 are 2 hemodynamically active metabolites of the inodilator levosimendan, with calcium sensitizing activity, but their mechanism of action is still not fully understood. It has been previously reported that the positive inotropic effect of levosimendan is not potentiated by the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin, whereas forskolin does potentiate the effects of the phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor milrinone. To ascertain whether the active metabolites follow the same pattern of levosimendan, the positive inotropic effects of OR- 1855 and OR-1896 were studied in guinea-pig-isolated papillary muscle in the presence and absence of forskolin. OR-1855 and OR-1896 were also tested as inhibitors of PDE-III and PDE-IV. Our results show that 0.1 µM forskolin did not potentiate the positive inotropic effect of OR-1855 or OR-1896, as in the case of the parent compound levosimendan. As in previous studies, the positive inotropic effect of milrinone was markedly potentiated in the presence of forskolin. From these data, we propose an explanation for the divergent behavior of the calcium sensitizing drugs and PDE inhibitors.

Levosimendan and continuous outpatient support with inotropes (COSI) in patients with advanced heart failure: a single-centre descriptive study

ABSTRACT

To describe the use of levosimendan in a quaternary referral centre with a dedicated heart failure service and compare its efficacy and safety to continuous outpatient support with inotropes (COSI) among patients with advanced heart failure (AHF) who require bridge to decision (BTD) or bridge to transplant (BTT) therapy. This study was a retrospective, single-centre, descriptive study of patients with AHF who received either a single levosimendan infusion or COSI between 2018 and 2021. A total of 23 patients received a levosimendan infusion, and 14 were commenced on COSI. Three indications for levosimendan were identified - (1) to facilitate weaning of continuous inotropes, (2) to augment diuresis in cardiorenal syndrome, and (3) as first-line therapy for cardiogenic shock in selected patients. Eighty-three percent (19/23) of patients who received levosimendan survived to discharge, and there were few clinically significant adverse events. Overall survival at 12 months among patients who received levosimendan was 74%. No statistically significant difference in survival was observed at 12 months (p = 0.68) or beyond (p = 0.63) between patients that received levosimendan and were discharged with a plan for BTD or BTT, and those that received COSI. Levosimendan is a safe and effective short-term therapy in AHF and offers comparable long-term survival to COSI in patients that require BTD or BTT therapy.

Effects of Levosimendan on Systemic Perfusion in Patients with Low Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) Score: Experience from a Single Center in Taiwan

Background

Patients with cardiogenic shock have a high risk of mortality. Intravenous levosimendan can provide pharmacologic inotrope support.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the effect of levosimendan in patients with extremely severe cardiogenic shock and low Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) score with or without mechanical circulatory support.

Methods

From January 2017 to May 2019, 24 patients with INTERMACS 1-4 were enrolled in this retrospective study. All patients had systemic malperfusion and were treated with levosimendan. Biochemistry data related to systemic perfusion were recorded and compared before and at 24 and 72 hours after levosimendan administration. Echocardiography and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) were completed 2 months later to assess left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and quality of life (QoL), respectively.

Results

Arterial pressure and heart rate did not significantly differ before and after levosimendan administration. Atrial fibrillation and ventricular premature complex increased without significance. The dose of inotropes could be significantly tapered down. There were no significant differences in blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and lactate levels. Urine output significantly increased (p = 0.018), and liver-related enzymes improved but without significance. B-type natriuretic peptide significantly decreased (p = 0.007) at 24 hours after levosimendan administration. Echocardiography showed significantly improved LVEF 2 months later (22.43 ± 8.13% to 35.87 ± 13.4%, p = 0.001). KCCQ showed significantly improved physical activity and greater relief of symptoms (p = 0.003). The survival-to-discharge rate was 75%.

Conclusions

We observed a decrease in B-type natriuretic peptide, better urine output, and alleviated hepatic injury in the levosimendan group. Most patients who survived without transplantation had significantly improved LVEF and better QoL after levosimendan administration.

Levosimendan Improves Hemodynamics and Exercise Tolerance in PH-HFpEF: Results of the Randomized Placebo-Controlled HELP Trial

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of intravenous levosimendan on hemodynamics and 6-min walk distance (6MWD) in patients with pulmonary hypertension and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (PH-HFpEF).

BACKGROUND

There are no proven effective treatments for patients with PH-HFpEF.

METHODS

Patients with mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) ≥35 mm Hg, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) ≥20 mm Hg, and LVEF ≥40% underwent 6MWD and hemodynamic measurements at rest, during passive leg raise, and supine cycle exercise at baseline and after an open-label 24-h levosimendan infusion (0.1 μg/kg/min). Hemodynamic responders (those with ≥4 mm Hg reduction of exercise-PCWP) were randomized (double blind) to weekly levosimendan infusion (0.075 to 0.1 ug/kg/min for 24 h) or placebo for 5 additional weeks. The primary end point was exercise-PCWP, and key secondary end points included 6MWD and PCWP measured across all exercise stages.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven of 44 patients (84%) met responder criteria and were randomized to levosimendan (n = 18) or placebo (n = 19). Participants were 69 ± 9 years of age, 61% female, and with resting mPAP 41.0 ± 9.3 mm Hg and exercise-PCWP 36.8 ± 11.3 mm Hg. Compared with placebo, levosimendan did not significantly reduce the primary end point of exercise-PCWP at 6 weeks (-1.4 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -7.8 to 4.8; p = 0.65). However, levosimendan reduced PCWP measured across all exercise stages (-3.9 ± 2.0 mm Hg; p = 0.047). Levosimendan treatment resulted in a 29.3 m (95% CI: 2.5 to 56.1; p = 0.033) improvement in 6MWD compared with placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Six weeks of once-weekly levosimendan infusion did not affect exercise-PCWP but did reduce PCWP incorporating data from rest and exercise, in tandem with increased 6MWD. Further study of levosimendan is warranted as a therapeutic option for PH-HFpEF. (Hemodynamic Evaluation of Levosimendan in Patients With PH-HFpEF [HELP]; NCT03541603).

The Use of Low-Dose Intermittent Levosimendan Infusion Therapy as Bridge-to-Left Ventricular Assist Device in Advanced Chronic Heart Failure Secondary to Isolated Cardiac Sarcoidosis

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive condition that usually involves a debilitating late course with poor health-related quality of life and increasing mortality rate. In this report, we demonstrate the efficacy and safety of intermittent levosimendan infusion as a bridging therapy to left ventricular assist device use in a patient suffering from cardiac sarcoidosis who failed to respond to optimized medical therapy. Levosimendan was administered in an outpatient infusion-therapy facility every 2 weeks as a single intravenous infusion over 6 h at dose and rate of 0.2 μg/kg/min not proceeded by a bolus. The primary observation we are reporting is the efficacy of this approach reflected on serum concentrations of N-terminal brain natriuretic propeptide and creatinine levels. Secondary observation comprised patient-reported outcomes and clinical events including hospitalization (s).

MitraClip Implantation for Functional Mitral Regurgitation With Coaptation Gap Facilitated by Levosimendan Treatment

A patient with severe, symptomatic functional mitral regurgitation was initially considered not suitable for MitraClip (Abbott Vascular, Abbott Park, Illinois) implantation because of non-coapting mitral leaflets. Repeated levosimendan infusions in combination with intensive diuresis induced sufficient valve coaptation, thus allowing MitraClip implantation to be performed. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)

Short-term treatments for acute cardiac care: inotropes and inodilators

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.

Use of Levosimendan in Intensive Care Unit Settings: An Opinion Paper

Levosimendan is an inodilator that promotes cardiac contractility primarily through calcium sensitization of cardiac troponin C and vasodilatation via opening of adenosine triphosphate–sensitive potassium (K_ATP) channels in vascular smooth muscle cells; the drug also exerts organ-protective effects through a similar effect on mitochondrial K_ATP channels. This pharmacological profile identifies levosimendan as a drug that may have applications in a wide range of critical illness situations encountered in intensive care unit medicine: hemodynamic support in cardiogenic or septic shock; weaning from mechanical ventilation or from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; and in the context of cardiorenal syndrome. This review, authored by experts from 9 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland), examines the clinical and experimental data for levosimendan in these situations and concludes that, in most instances, the evidence is encouraging, which is not the case with other cardioactive and vasoactive drugs routinely used in the intensive care unit. The size of the available studies is, however, limited and the data are in need of verification in larger controlled trials. Some proposals are offered for the aims and designs of these additional studies.

Optimizing fluorine labelling for 19F solid-state NMR in oriented biological systems

When planning a fluorine labeling strategy for ¹⁹F solid state NMR (ssNMR) studies of the structure and/or mobility of fluorine labeled compounds in situ in an oriented biological system, it is important to characterize the NMR properties of the label. This manuscript focuses on the characterization of a selection of aromatic fluorine compounds in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers using ¹⁹F ssNMR from the standpoint of determining the optimum arrangement of fluorine nuclei on a pendant aromatic ring before incorporation into more complex biological systems.

Haemodynamic Balance in Acute and Advanced Heart Failure: An Expert Perspective on the Role of Levosimendan

Acute and advanced heart failure are associated with substantial adverse short- and longer-term prognosis. Both conditions necessitate complex treatment choices to restore haemodynamic stability and organ perfusion, relieve congestion, improve symptoms and allow the patient to leave the hospital and achieve an adequate quality of life. Among the available intravenous vasoactive therapies, inotropes constitute an option when an increase in cardiac contractility is needed to reverse a low output state. Within the inotrope category, levosimendan is well suited to the needs of both sets of patients since, in contrast to conventional adrenergic inotropes, it has not been linked in clinical trials or wider clinical usage with increased mortality risk and retains its efficacy in the presence of beta-adrenergic receptor blockade; it is further believed to possess beneficial renal effects. The overall haemodynamic profile and clinical tolerability of levosimendan, combined with its extended duration of action, have encouraged its intermittent use in patients with advanced heart failure. This paper summarises the key messages derived from a series of 12 tutorials held at the Heart Failure 2019 congress organised in Athens, Greece, by the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology.

Evaluation of ventriculo-arterial coupling in ST elevation myocardial infarction with left ventricular dysfunction treated with levosimendan

BACKGROUND

Acute heart failure (AHF) after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is usually treated with inotropic support or vasoactive medications. In this study, we aimed at investigating the role of levosimendan on cardiovascular determinants of contractility and afterload in patients with AHF following STEMI treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

Forty-eight consecutive STEMI patients were retrospectively enrolled. Non-invasive assessment of left ventricular elastance (Ees) and arterial elastance (Ea) and their relationship, ventriculo-arterial coupling (VAC) was performed before and after levosimendan infusion.

RESULTS

After infusion of levosimendan a significant increase in SV was detected in all patients (from 48 ± 17 to 60 ± 21 ml, p < 0.001). VAC slightly decreased from 1.74 ± 0.8 to 1.66 ± 0.7 (p = NS) as a result of a profound reduction in arterial elastance (Ea 2.34 ± 1.09 to 1.74 ± 0.5 mm Hg/ml, p < 0.001) and in ventricular elastance (Ees 1.57 ± 0.12 to 1.24 ± 0.09 mm Hg/ml, p = 0.021). Ejection fraction (EF) (from 0.29 ± 0.1 to 0.32 ± 0.1, p < 0.01) and WMSI, (from 2.16 ± 0.47 to 2.05 ± 0.54, p < 0.05) also, significantly improved. Finally, baseline VAC was able to predict the use of norepinephrine (NE) and early and one-year mortality of patients treated.

CONCLUSION

In STEMI patients with AHF the use of levosimendan significantly increases stroke volume after 24-hour treatment through Ea reduction. Baseline VAC seemed to predict early and late mortality and early and prolonged use of NE, however, this needs to be tested in larger series of patients and multivariate adjustments for other prognostic predictors.

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Current Options for Treatment and Cardiovascular Support

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare form of acute heart failure but the major cause of all deaths in pregnant patients with heart failure. Improved survival rates in recent years, however, emphasize the importance of early recognition and initiation of heart failure treatment. This article, therefore, attempts to raise awareness among cardiac and obstetric anesthesiologists as well as intensivists of this often fatal diagnosis. This review summarizes theories of the pathophysiology and outcome of peripartum cardiomyopathy. Based on the most recent literature, it further outlines diagnostic criteria and treatment options including medical management, mechanical circulatory support devices, and heart transplantation. Earlier recognition of this rare condition and a new generation of mechanical circulatory devices has contributed to the improved outcome. More frequently, patients in cardiogenic shock who fail medical management are successfully bridged to recovery on extracorporeal circulatory devices or survive with a long-lasting implantable ventricular assist device. The outcome of transplanted patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy, however, is worse compared to other recipients of heart transplants and warrants further investigation in the future.

Repetitive levosimendan treatment in the management of advanced heart failure

Inotropes may be an appropriate treatment for patients with advanced heart failure (AdHF) who remain highly symptomatic despite optimized standard therapies. Objectives for inotrope use in these situations include relief of symptoms and improvement of quality of life, and reduction in unplanned hospitalizations and the costs associated with such episodes. All of these goals must be attained without compromising survival. Encouraging findings with intermittent cycles of intravenous levosimendan have emerged from a range of exploratory studies and from three larger controlled trials (LevoRep, LION-HEART, and LAICA) which offered some evidence of clinical advantage. In these settings, however, obtaining statistically robust data may prove elusive due to the difficulties of endpoint assessment in a complex medical condition with varying presentation and trajectory. Adoption of a composite clinical endpoint evaluated in a hierarchical manner may offer a workable solution to this problem. Such an instrument can explore the proposition that repetitive administration of levosimendan early in the period after discharge from an acute episode of worsening heart failure may be associated with greater subsequent clinical stability vis-à-vis standard therapy. The use of this methodology to develop a ‘stability score’ for each patient means that all participants in such a trial contribute to the overall outcome analysis through one or more of the hierarchical endpoints; this has helpful practical implications for the number of patients needed and the length of follow-up required to generate endpoint data. The LeoDOR study (NCT03437226), outlined in this review, has been designed to explore this new approach to outcome assessment in AdHF.

Natriuretic Peptides in Cardiac Anesthesia and Intensive Care

Natriuretic peptides, predominantly B-type, are widely used in cardiology as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers or, much less often, as a substantive treatment tool. They are hormones that are produced mainly in the myocardium in response to overload and ischemia, and their level quite accurately reflects the degree of myocardial dysfunction. Although their use in cardiac anesthesia and intensive care setting seems to be very beneficial for assessing the risk of acute disturbance of myocardial function or its laboratory monitoring, the actual significance of natriuretic peptides in this area is not yet recognized. This is due to the lack of clear diagnostic and prognostic values for these biomarkers supported by high-quality researches. On the basis of the available data, main advantages, existing difficulties, and most effective ways of using natriuretic peptides for determining the risk of heart surgery and assessing the severity of sepsis, pneumonia, and other critical conditions have been discussed in this review. In addition, the expediency of using natriuretic peptides as target parameters for goal-oriented therapy and as a substantive tool for treatment is considered.

The CardioMEMS system in the clinical management of end-stage heart failure patients: three case reports

BACKGROUND

Recent clinical trials have shown that pulmonary artery pressure-guided therapy via the CardioMEMS™ system reduces the risk of recurrent hospitalizations in chronic heart failure (HF) patients. The CardioMEMS™ pressure sensor is percutaneously implanted in a branch of the pulmonary artery and allows telemetric pressure monitoring via a receiver. According to the most recent ESC guidelines, this technology has currently a class IIb indication in patients with class III New York Heart Association symptoms and a previous hospitalization for congestive heart failure within the last year, regardless of ejection fraction. Aim of this guided-therapy is multifold, including an early prediction of upcoming decompensation, optimization of patients' therapy and thereby avoidance of hospital admissions. In addition, it can be used during acute decompensation events as a novel tool to direct intra-hospital therapeutic interventions such as inotropes infusion or left ventricular (LV) assist device monitoring, with the aim of achieving an optimal volume status.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case series of three end-stage HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who received a CardioMEMS™ device as an aid in their clinical management. The CardioMEMS™ system enabled a closer non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring of these patients and guided the extent of therapeutic interventions. Patients were free from device- or system-related complications. In addition, no pressure-sensor failure was observed. Two patients received a 24-h infusion of the calcium sensitizer levosimendan. One patient showed a refractory acute decompensation and underwent LV assist device (LVAD) implantation as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. Switching a patient with recurrent hospitalizations to the Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitor (ARNI, Sacubitril-Valsartan) on top of the optimal heart failure-therapy improved its subjective condition and hemodynamics, avoiding further hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

Our case series underlines the potential impact of CardioMEMS™ derived data in the daily clinical management of end-stage HF patients. The new concept to combine CardioMEMS™ in the setting of an outpatient levosimendan program as well as a bridge to LVAD-implantation/heart transplantation looks promising but needs further investigations.