Time Course of B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and N-Terminal ProBNP Changes in Patients with Decompensated Heart Failure

11 consecutive patients with acute decompensation of chronic heart failure requiring hemodynamic monitoring and intravenous treatment, LVEF ≤30%, PCWP ≥15 mmHg, and CI ≤2.5 L/min/m2. Mean age 62 years, 10 males and 1 female. NYHA class III (n=3) to IV (n=8).

Levosimendan initiated with an intravenous bolus of 24 μg/kg over 10 min, followed by continuous infusion of 0.1 μg/kg/min for 50 min, then increased to 0.2 μg/kg/min for the next 23 hours.

Time-dependent changes in hemodynamics (PCWP, CI) and BNP and NT-proBNP values at 10 min, 60 min, 120 min, 6 h, and 24 h.surrogate