Do calcium sensitizers affect right ventricular functions in patients with chronic heart failure?

• Published in: International journal of cardiology Vol. 118; no. 2; pp. 246 - 248
• Main Authors: Kasikcioglu, Hulya A., Uyarel, Huseyin, Tartan, Zeynep, Kasikcioglu, Erdem, Ozturk, Recep, Cam, Nese
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 31.05.2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Calcium sensitizer; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - diagnostic imaging; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - drug therapy; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - physiopathology; Cardiotonic Agents - therapeutic use; Cardiovascular; Echocardiography, Doppler; Heart; Heart failure; Heart failure, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, cardiac enlargement; Humans; Hydrazones - therapeutic use; Levosimendan; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pyridazines - therapeutic use; Right ventricle; Tissue Doppler imaging; Treatment Outcome; Tricuspid Valve - diagnostic imaging; Ventricular Function, Right - drug effects; Heart failure; Calcium sensitizer; Tissue Doppler imaging; Levosimendan; Right ventricle; Sonography; Human; Calcium; Tissue doppler; Cardiovascular disease; Patient; Phlebology; Chronic; Right ventricular function; Heart disease; Circulatory system; Cardiology; Sensitizer
• ISSN: 0167-5273; 1874-1754; 1874-1754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2006.06.054

Calcium sensitizers also improve cardiac function by increasing the contraction of the myocardium without significantly increasing intracellular calcium levels. Although right ventricular function is an important role for better cardiac global function, there is no study about effects of levosimendan on right ventricular function measured by tissue Doppler imaging. The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes of myocardial properties in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy using tissue Doppler imaging after levosimendan infusion. This tissue Doppler study shows that levosimendan also affects myocardial especially systolic waves of right ventricle and those of left ventricle.