Hemodynamic effects of levosimendan in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock and high systemic vascular resistance

Abstract

Background: Levosimendan (LEVO), a new inodilator, improves hemodynamic function in patients with decompensated heart failure and preserved arterial blood pressure. Data on its use in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) are scarce. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the hemodynamic effects of supplemental therapy with levosimendan (LEVO) in acute myocardial infarction (MI) and refractory cardiogenic shock (CS).

Methods: In 25 patients presenting in CS after acute MI, LEVO was administered for 24 h in doses ranging between 0.05 and 0.20 microg/kg/min, as tolerated, preceded by 6-microg/kg over 10 min, in addition to catecholamines. Hemodynamic measurements were made before and 24 h after initiation of the LEVO infusion.

Results: Hemodynamic improvement was limited to 13 patients with systemic vascular resistances (SVR) > or =18 W. LEVO increased the cardiac index from 1.5+/-0.3 l/min/m2 to 2.1+/-0.4 l/min/m2 (P = 0.002) and cardiac power from 0.462+/-0.164 W to 0.645+/-0.179 W (P = 0.022), and decreased SVR from 23+/-5 to 21+/-6.7 Wood units (P = 0.001) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure from 24+/-9 mmHg to 16+/-11 mmHg (P = 0.059). No hemodynamic improvement was observed during LEVO administration in 12 patients with SVR < 18 W.

Conclusion: The hemodynamic benefit conferred by LEVO added to catecholamines in patients with CS after acute MI was limited to patients with high SVR.