Levosimendan appeared to safely improve symptoms and survival in 504 patients with post-infarction heart failure requiring intravenous inotropic support.
RCT (n=504)
The RUSSLAN study, which randomised 504 patients with post-infarction heart failure in whom intravenous inotropic support might be deemed appropriate, was presented for the first time in a hotline session at the annual meeting of the Working Group on Heart Failure of the European Society of Cardiology. The study suggested that levosimendan, a new calcium sensitising agent, could be used safely in patients with post-infarction heart failure in the absence of severe hypotension and that it appeared to improve symptoms and survival. If these results can be confirmed it would render it unique among intravenous inotropic agents.
Gomes et al. (Sun,) conducted a rct in post-infarction heart failure (n=504). Levosimendan was evaluated on Symptoms and survival. Levosimendan appeared to safely improve symptoms and survival in 504 patients with post-infarction heart failure requiring intravenous inotropic support.
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