European journal of heart failure
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Apr 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyIntravenous levosimendan vs. dobutamine in acute decompensated heart failure patients on beta-blockers.
The aim of this study is to compare the effects of a 24 h intravenous infusion of levosimendan and a 48 h infusion of dobutamine on invasive haemodynamics in patients with acutely decompensated chronic NYHA class III-IV heart failure. All patients were receiving optimal oral therapy including a beta-blocker. ⋯ A 24 h levosimendan infusion achieved haemodynamic and neurohormonal improvement that was at least comparable at 24 h and superior at 48 h to a 48 h dobutamine infusion.