Abstract：Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of levosimendan on intractable heart failure in elderly patients.Methods A total of 267 patients with congestive heart failure(over 65 years of age,NYHA class Ⅲ-Ⅳ,LvEF≤40%,and NTpro-BNP≥1 000 μg·L-1) were regularly treated with digitalis and/or milrinone,dobutamine,frusemide,aldosterone,panurin,ACE-I,anti-infection and salt restriction for 2 weeks.Forty-one patients without symptom improvement were re-evaluated and presented in NYHA class Ⅲ-Ⅳ,LvEF≤40%,NTpro-BNP≥1 000 μg·L-1,and serum creatinine≤110 μmol·L-1.These patients were treated with levosimendan(experimental group,n=20) or continuously given regular treatment(control group,n=21).The changes in NYHA classification,LvEF and NTpro-BNP were observed 72 hours after treatment.Results Compared with control group,NYHA functional classification,LvEF and Ntpro-BNP were significantly improved in experimental group(P<0.01).Conclusion Levosimendan can improve heart function,increase LvEF and reduce NTpro-BNP in elderly patients with intractable heart failure.
2012, Vol. 52 
