Is calcium sensitization the best strategy to improve myocardial contractility in acute heart failure?
(2003) In Italian Heart Journal 4 Suppl 2. p.27-33- Abstract
- The finely-tuned increases and decreases in the intracellular calcium levels in myocytes ultimately regulate the contraction and relaxation of the heart. Therapeutic agents can improve or interfere with this delicate balance. Calcium sensitizers enhance cardiac contraction by improving the use of calcium that is available, rather than by inundating the cell with excessive calcium, as is the case with traditional inotropes. With the sensitizing mechanism, the energy cost of contraction is maintained at a near-normal level, and the threat of arrhythmias and sudden death is low. Levosimendan is the first calcium sensitizer to become available for the treatment of patients with acute heart failure. In recent clinical studies, levosimendan... (More)
- The finely-tuned increases and decreases in the intracellular calcium levels in myocytes ultimately regulate the contraction and relaxation of the heart. Therapeutic agents can improve or interfere with this delicate balance. Calcium sensitizers enhance cardiac contraction by improving the use of calcium that is available, rather than by inundating the cell with excessive calcium, as is the case with traditional inotropes. With the sensitizing mechanism, the energy cost of contraction is maintained at a near-normal level, and the threat of arrhythmias and sudden death is low. Levosimendan is the first calcium sensitizer to become available for the treatment of patients with acute heart failure. In recent clinical studies, levosimendan increased cardiac output and stroke volume without significantly increasing oxygen demand. By its additional action as a vasodilator (via potassium channel opening), levosimendan also corrects the hemodynamic decompensation, thus lowering the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and systemic vascular resistance. Furthermore, levosimendan increases the coronary circulation thus leading to an improved function of the stunned myocardium and lessened ischemia. Taken together, levosimendan's primary calcium-sensitizing action, along with its complementary vasodilator properties, make this new drug a highly promising agent for the treatment of patients with acute heart failure. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/118686
- author
- Erhardt, Leif RW LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2003
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Italian Heart Journal
- volume
- 4 Suppl 2
- pages
- 27 - 33
- publisher
- CEPI - AIM Group
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:2142725976
- ISSN
- 1129-471X
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 24c1936c-fa41-4542-89f0-d2b303bba248 (old id 118686)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 16:42:12
- date last changed
- 2022-01-28 21:33:58
@article{24c1936c-fa41-4542-89f0-d2b303bba248,
abstract = {{The finely-tuned increases and decreases in the intracellular calcium levels in myocytes ultimately regulate the contraction and relaxation of the heart. Therapeutic agents can improve or interfere with this delicate balance. Calcium sensitizers enhance cardiac contraction by improving the use of calcium that is available, rather than by inundating the cell with excessive calcium, as is the case with traditional inotropes. With the sensitizing mechanism, the energy cost of contraction is maintained at a near-normal level, and the threat of arrhythmias and sudden death is low. Levosimendan is the first calcium sensitizer to become available for the treatment of patients with acute heart failure. In recent clinical studies, levosimendan increased cardiac output and stroke volume without significantly increasing oxygen demand. By its additional action as a vasodilator (via potassium channel opening), levosimendan also corrects the hemodynamic decompensation, thus lowering the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and systemic vascular resistance. Furthermore, levosimendan increases the coronary circulation thus leading to an improved function of the stunned myocardium and lessened ischemia. Taken together, levosimendan's primary calcium-sensitizing action, along with its complementary vasodilator properties, make this new drug a highly promising agent for the treatment of patients with acute heart failure.}},
author = {{Erhardt, Leif RW}},
issn = {{1129-471X}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{27--33}},
publisher = {{CEPI - AIM Group}},
series = {{Italian Heart Journal}},
title = {{Is calcium sensitization the best strategy to improve myocardial contractility in acute heart failure?}},
volume = {{4 Suppl 2}},
year = {{2003}},
}