Levosimendan is reviewed as a potential novel agent for treating right ventricular failure caused by pulmonary hypertension, given its inotropic, vasodilatory, and cardioprotective properties.
Does levosimendan improve outcomes in patients with pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure?
Levosimendan's pharmacodynamic profile suggests it could be a potential treatment for right ventricular failure in pulmonary hypertension.
Pulmonary hypertension is a multifactorial disease with a high morbidity and mortality. Right ventricular function is the most important predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension, but currently there are no approved treatments directly supporting the failing right ventricle. Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizing agent with inotropic, pulmonary vasodilatory, and cardioprotective properties. Given its pharmacodynamic profile, levosimendan could be a potential novel agent for the treatment of right ventricular failure caused by pulmonary hypertension. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the effects of levosimendan in pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure.
Hansen et al. (Sun,) conducted a review in Pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. Levosimendan was evaluated. Levosimendan is reviewed as a potential novel agent for treating right ventricular failure caused by pulmonary hypertension, given its inotropic, vasodilatory, and cardioprotective properties.