Table 1.

Details of the two studies included in the analysis.

	Study 1*	Study 2†
Patient group	Stable CHF	Stable and unstable CHF
Study design	Randomized, double blind, parallel group	Randomized, double blind, parallel group
Study size	151‡	146§
Nominal sampling times¶	0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 24.5, 25, 26	0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 24, 24.5, 25, 26, 28, 30, 48, 50/52**, 54
Bolus dose (µg kg−1)	3, 6, 12, 24, 36	6
Infusion rates (µg.kg min−1)	0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6	0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4
Infusion durations (h)	24	6-48

^*See reference [14].

^†See reference [15].

^‡Levosimendan, 95; placebo, 36; dobutamine, 20.

^§Levosimendan, 98; placebo, 48.

^¶Hours after the start of the first infusion.

^**Sampling time depends on randomization code; even number = 50, odd number = 52.