Does intravenous levosimendan provide sustained hemodynamic effects?
Intravenous levosimendan provides sustained hemodynamic effects even after discontinuation, likely mediated by its active metabolite OR-1896.
The hemodynamic effects of Levo were maintained during a 48-hour continuous infusion and for at least 24 hours after discontinuation of a 24-hour infusion. The active metabolite OR-1896 increased for at least 24 hours after cessation of drug infusion and may account for the prolonged hemodynamic effects of Levo.
Kivikko et al. (Tue,) studied this question.