Revista portuguesa de cardiologia : orgão oficial da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia = Portuguese journal of cardiology : an official journal of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology
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Review Case Reports
Levosimendan: a new approach for the treatment of patients with severe heart failure. A brief summary based on a clinical case.
Looking at the clinical report of a single patients admitted with severely decompensated heart failure and successfully managed with levosimendan, the authors review the current knowledge about this new drug. The treatment of severely decompensated heart failure is currently based on classical catecholamines (dopamine and dobutamine). ⋯ More recently a new concept has been introduced regarding a new way to improve myocardial contractility and vasodilation based on calcium-sensitizing properties with additional action on adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels. Levosimendan is a representative of this new class recently launched in the Portuguese market.