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  • Title: Levosimendan in decompensated heart failure patients: efficacy in a Brazilian cohort. Results of the BELIEF study.
    Author: Bocchi EA, Vilas-Boas F, Moreira Mda C, Barretto AC, Lage S, Albuquerque D, Baima J, Rassi S, Ribeiro JP, Investigators of BELIEF Study, Heart Failure Working Group of Brazilian Society of Cardiology.
    Journal: Arq Bras Cardiol; 2008 Mar; 90(3):182-90. PubMed ID: 18392398.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Levosimendan is a new inodilatory agent that enhances cardiac contractility via Ca(2+) sensitization and induces vasodilation through the activation of KATP/BKCa. OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy and safety of levosimendan in a decompensated heart failure (DHF) Brazilian cohort, and in b-adrenergic agonist resistant patients. METHODS: The Brazilian Evaluation of Levosimendan Infusion Efficacy (BELIEF) study was prospective, multicenter, observational and included 182 high-risk DHF patients, all of which received open-label levosimendan. Primary end point was hospital discharge without additional inotropic therapy (responder). Secondary end points were changes in hemodynamics, clinical parameters, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). RESULTS: Mortality rate was 14.8%, and 139 of 182 patients were responders. In non responders it was 62.8%. Systolic blood pressure was a predictor of response. In b-adrenergic agonist resistant group, 55.8% were responders. Overall, 54 patients experienced at least one adverse event; most of them resolved either spontaneously or after levosimendan dose reduction. A significant improvement in quality of life was verified at 2-6 months of follow-up (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest levosimendan infusion as an alternative therapy in the short term management of DHF patients. HF severity can influence the response to levosimendan treatment. Prospective studies are warranted in a Brazilian cohort including Chagas heart disease.
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