Effects of Levosimendan on Microcirculation in Septic Shock

Summary

The present study was conducted as a prospective, randomized, controlled study to: * investigate the effects of a combination of levosimendan and inhaled nitric oxide on systemic hemodynamics and microcirculation in patients with catecholamine-dependent septic shock; * test the hypothesis that levosimendan plus inhaled nitric oxide may be effective in restoring microvascular function in septic shock.

Timeline

Start

2007-11

Primary completion

2008-02

Completion

2009-04

Outcome

Met primary endpoint

paper MFIs 2.9 (2.9; 3.0) vs. 2.7 (2.3; 2.8); P < .001 PMID 21182783 ↗

paper Microcirculatory flow indices of small and medium vessels increased over time and were significantly higher in the levosimendan group as compared to the control group PMID 21182783 ↗

Publications

• Morelli A, Donati A, Ertmer C, Rehberg S, Lange M, Orecchioni A, Cecchini V, Landoni G, Pelaia P, Pietropaoli P, Van Aken H, Teboul JL, Ince C, Westphal M. Levosimendan for resuscitating the microcirculation in patients with septic shock: a randomized controlled study. Crit Care. 2010;14(6):R232. doi: 10.1186/cc9387. Epub 2010 Dec 23.

Drugs

Evaluation	Drug	Modality	Dose	Route
Comparator	Dobutamine	Small molecule	5 ug/kg	Intravenous
Subject	Levosimendan	Other / unclassified	0.2 ug/kg	Intravenous

Indications