Levosimendan in two neonates with ischemic heart failure and pulmonary hypertension

Maria Pia De Carolis; Marco Piastra; Iliana Bersani; Manuela Pardeo; Eleonora Stival; Alessia Tempera; Costantino Romagnoli; Giorgio Conti; Gabriella De Rosa

doi:10.1159/000329848

Levosimendan in two neonates with ischemic heart failure and pulmonary hypertension

Neonatology. 2012;101(3):201-5. doi: 10.1159/000329848. Epub 2011 Nov 8.

Authors

Maria Pia De Carolis¹, Marco Piastra, Iliana Bersani, Manuela Pardeo, Eleonora Stival, Alessia Tempera, Costantino Romagnoli, Giorgio Conti, Gabriella De Rosa

Affiliation

¹ Neonatal ICU, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, A. Gemelli Hospital, Rome, Italy. mpia.decarolis @ rm.unicatt.it

PMID: 22067520
DOI: 10.1159/000329848

Abstract

We report the successful and safe use of levosimendan, a new calcium-sensitizing agent with positive inotropic and vasodilatory action, in 2 critically ill term newborns with acute heart failure and pulmonary hypertension in the absence of any underlying heart malformation and/or previous cardiosurgical procedures. During the neonatal period, levosimendan may represent an ideal drug for immature myocardium characterized by a higher calcium-dependent contractility than in adults.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Cardiotonic Agents / therapeutic use*
Female
Heart Failure / drug therapy*
Heart Failure / etiology
Heart Failure / physiopathology
Humans
Hydrazones / therapeutic use*
Hypertension, Pulmonary / complications
Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology
Infant, Newborn
Male
Myocardial Ischemia / complications
Myocardial Ischemia / drug therapy*
Myocardial Ischemia / physiopathology
Pyridazines / therapeutic use*
Simendan
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Cardiotonic Agents
Hydrazones
Pyridazines
Simendan