Effects of levosimendan on right ventricular function and ventriculovascular coupling in open chest pigs. 2003

H Alex Leather, and Kirsten Ver Eycken, and Patrick Segers, and Paul Herijgers, and Eugène Vandermeersch, and Patrick F Wouters
Center for Experimental Surgery and Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.

OBJECTIVE Levosimendan is a promising calcium sensitizer that potentially could be useful in settings of pulmonary vasoconstriction and right ventricular dysfunction. There is a shortage of information concerning its effects on right ventricular function and ventriculovascular coupling. The aim of the present study was to characterize the effects of levosimendan on right ventricular and pulmonary vascular function by means of pressure-volume and pulsatile flow analysis. METHODS Prospective laboratory investigation. METHODS University hospital laboratory. METHODS Eight landrace pigs (mean weight, 37 kg). METHODS Following instrumentation with biventricular conductance catheters, pulmonary and right coronary artery flow probes, a high-fidelity pulmonary pressure catheter, and a right coronary venous catheter, hemodynamic measurements were performed in baseline conditions and during levosimendan infusion at three increasing plasma concentrations (mean values, 27.5, 67.6, and 142.5 ng/mL). RESULTS Levosimendan increased heart rate and cardiac output, reduced systemic vascular resistance, and had a positive inotropic effect on the left ventricle and increased left ventricular mechanical efficiency. Moreover, levosimendan increased right ventricular contractility and hydraulic power. However, total pulmonary vascular resistance and characteristic impedance did not change throughout the protocol, and right ventricular mechanical efficiency decreased slightly at the highest concentration of levosimendan. CONCLUSIONS At clinical concentrations in the present model, levosimendan increases right ventricular contractility and performance without significantly influencing pulmonary vascular tone. Further studies are required in a model of pulmonary vasoconstriction to disclose possible pulmonary vasodilator effects of levosimendan.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009200 Myocardial Contraction Contractile activity of the MYOCARDIUM. Heart Contractility,Inotropism, Cardiac,Cardiac Inotropism,Cardiac Inotropisms,Contractilities, Heart,Contractility, Heart,Contraction, Myocardial,Contractions, Myocardial,Heart Contractilities,Inotropisms, Cardiac,Myocardial Contractions
D010101 Oxygen Consumption The rate at which oxygen is used by a tissue; microliters of oxygen STPD used per milligram of tissue per hour; the rate at which oxygen enters the blood from alveolar gas, equal in the steady state to the consumption of oxygen by tissue metabolism throughout the body. (Stedman, 25th ed, p346) Consumption, Oxygen,Consumptions, Oxygen,Oxygen Consumptions
D011652 Pulmonary Circulation The circulation of the BLOOD through the LUNGS. Pulmonary Blood Flow,Respiratory Circulation,Circulation, Pulmonary,Circulation, Respiratory,Blood Flow, Pulmonary,Flow, Pulmonary Blood,Pulmonary Blood Flows
D011724 Pyridazines Six-membered rings with two adjacent nitrogen atoms also called 1,2-diazine.
D002302 Cardiac Output The volume of BLOOD passing through the HEART per unit of time. It is usually expressed as liters (volume) per minute so as not to be confused with STROKE VOLUME (volume per beat). Cardiac Outputs,Output, Cardiac,Outputs, Cardiac
D003326 Coronary Circulation The circulation of blood through the CORONARY VESSELS of the HEART. Circulation, Coronary
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D006334 Heart Function Tests Examinations used to diagnose and treat heart conditions. Cardiac Function Tests,Cardiac Function Test,Function Test, Cardiac,Function Test, Heart,Function Tests, Cardiac,Function Tests, Heart,Heart Function Test,Test, Cardiac Function,Test, Heart Function,Tests, Cardiac Function,Tests, Heart Function
D006439 Hemodynamics The movement and the forces involved in the movement of the blood through the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM. Hemodynamic
D006835 Hydrazones Compounds of the general formula R:N.NR2, as resulting from the action of hydrazines with aldehydes or ketones. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Hydrazone

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