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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Jun 2009
Case ReportsLevosimendan is not effective in reducing pulmonary pressures in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: report of two cases.
- Yuksel Cavusoglu, Ayse Beyaztas, Alparslan Birdane, and Necmi Ata.
- Department of Cardiology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey. yukselc@ogu.edu.tr
- J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2009 Jun 1;10(6):503-7.
AbstractCurrently, prostacyclin, endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase inhibitors are recommended therapy in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, each of these drugs has limited efficacy in the improvement of clinical symptoms, pulmonary hemodynamics and long-term survival. Levosimendan, a novel calcium-sensitizing inodilator agent, has been shown to have pulmonary vasodilatory action. However, the potential pulmonary vasodilating effect of levosimendan in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension remains unclear. Levosimendan administered in two patients with nonvasoreactive idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension exhibited deterioration in clinical status, and, contrary to what was expected, levosimendan was found to increase pulmonary pressures and did not lead to a substantial improvement of the patient's condition.
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