Levosimendan improves exercise performance in patients with advanced chronic heart failure

Abstract

Aims

Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) provides parameters such as peak VO₂ and ventilation/CO₂ production (VE/VCO₂) slope, which are strong prognostic predictors in patients with stable advanced chronic heart failure (ADHF). The study aim was to evaluate the effects of the inodilator levosimendan on CPET in patients with ADHF under stable clinical conditions.

Methods and results

We enrolled patients with ADHF (peak VO₂ < 12 mL/min/kg) in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled protocol. Patients were randomly assigned to i.v. infusion of placebo (500 mL 5% glucose; n = 19) or levosimendan (in 500 mL 5% glucose; n = 23). Before and 24 h after the end of the infusion, patients underwent determination of New York Heart Association class, B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP), haemoglobin, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen levels, as well as CPET, standard spirometry, and alveolar capillary gas diffusion. BNP showed no change with placebo (1042 ± 811 to 1043 ± 867 pg/mL), but it was decreased with levosimendan (1163 ± 897 to 509 ± 543 pg/mL, P < 0.001). No changes were observed for haemoglobin, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen in either group. With levosimendan, a minor improvement was observed in spirometry measurements, but not in alveolar capillary gas diffusion. Peak VO₂ showed a small, non‐significant increase with placebo (9.5 ± 1.7 to 10.0 ± 2.1 mL/kg/min, P = 0.12), and a greater increase with levosimendan (9.8 ± 1.7 to 11.0 ± 1.9 mL/kg/min, P < 0.005). The VE/VCO₂ slope showed no change (44.0 ± 11 vs. 43.4 ± 10.3, P = 0.44), and a decrease (41.9 ± 10 vs. 36.6 ± 6.4, P < 0.001) in the placebo and in the levosimendan group, respectively.

Conclusion

Levosimendan treatment significantly improves peak VO₂ and reduces VE/VCO₂ slope and BNP in patients with ADHF.

Introduction

The efficacy of any treatment for heart failure (HF) is assessed according to both patient survival and quality of life, and through several analytical tools, which include laboratory, functional, and exercise‐derived parameters.1 As well as providing clinical efficacy, which is a qualitative evaluation, this has allowed a more quantitative and objective analysis. Among the different functional techniques, cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) provides multiple parameters, such as oxygen consumption (VO₂) both at peak exercise and at anaerobic threshold, and the ventilatory equivalent ratio for carbon dioxide [i.e. ventilation vs. carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO₂)]. VE/VCO₂ is either determined as the ratio or as the slope of the relationship, and, along with VO₂, it is used to estimate the prognosis of patients with HF,2, 3, 4 to evaluate the efficacy of any therapy,3 and to determine the way in which any intervention is effective.3 Spirometry and alveolar–capillary membrane diffusion, which is usually calculated as the carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO), are frequently combined with CPET to allow a more complete interpretation of CPET data. Of note, DLCO per se provides information on patient prognosis and on the mechanisms of drug action.5, 6, 7

In contrast, in acute HF, the efficacy of therapy is usually evaluated only in terms of survival, hospital stay, quality of life, haemodynamic measurements, and possible laboratory data, such as B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels.8, 9 However, these data are frequently inconsistent, and their interpretation can be difficult. For instance, repetitive and prolonged administration of clinical inotropes, such as dobutamine and milrinone, has been associated with favourable haemodynamic changes and symptom improvement,10 although serious safety concerns have emerged.11 In particular, two meta‐analyses of randomized trials of β‐adrenergic agonists and phosphodiesterase inhibitors have suggested that, despite acute clinical and haemodynamic improvements, there is increased mortality.12, 13

The inodilator levosimendan combines positive inotropic, vasodilatory, and cardioprotective effects, without evoking significant changes in myocardial oxygen requirements,14, 15, 16 and it has been shown to improve symptoms and haemodynamics in patients with acute HF.17 Phase III clinical studies with levosimendan have shown encouraging results in patients with acute HF.8, 18, 19 Some studies have suggested that levosimendan can reduce mortality in this setting,20, 21 although the evidence is not uniform.22, 23 An expert panel recently suggested that, based on the existing evidence, levosimendan might also be used in patients with advanced chronic HF (ADHF),24 although no evaluation of the effects of levosimendan on CPET parameters and DLCO has ever been carried out in this setting. Such an investigation would provide relevant information for the evaluation of levosimendan efficacy in patients with ADHF and possibly also provide some mechanistic information. We therefore analysed the effects of levosimendan infusion on CPET, standard spirometry, DLCO, and BNP values in a population of patients with ADHF who could tolerate an exercise test, with a peak VO₂ < 12 mL/min/kg. The BNP values were used as an index of patients' haemodynamic status.1, 9

Methods

Patient selection

The present study was a single‐centre, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled, randomized trial, and it has been registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02261948.

Eligible patients had ADHF according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) definitions.1 Specifically, patients had severe HF symptoms [New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes III to IV], multiple episodes of fluid retention and/or peripheral hypoperfusion, and objective evidence of severe cardiac dysfunction. Moreover, patients had severe impairment of functional capacity, history of >1 HF hospitalizations in the past 6 months, and the presence of all the previous features despite optimal therapy.1 The infusions started approximately 3 h after the clinical, blood, and spirometry tests had been completed, which means after 48 to 72 h of clinical stabilization.

In the present study, patients were hospitalized for worsening HF, but, when recruited for the study, they had been returned to a stable clinical condition (NYHA III–IV), and they had been free from both inotrope support and other i.v. therapies, such as nitrate, nitroprusside, or dobutamine, for at least 48 h prior to study inclusion, except for diuretics where needed. The study inclusion criteria were a follows: left ventricular ejection fraction at echocardiography ≤35%, age ≥18 years, capability to perform CPET, peak VO₂ < 12 mL/min/kg, peak respiratory quotient >1.05, and standard HF therapy.

The exclusion criteria were as follows: ongoing mechanical ventilation; recent or acute coronary and respiratory syndromes; recent sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation; severe aortic or mitral valve disease, or known malfunctioning artificial heart valve; uncorrected obstructive valvular disease; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; and uncorrected thyroid disease, or presence of any disease that might per se influence exercise performance. Patients with left ventricle assist devices, patients with a pacemaker‐guided heart rate at rest or during exercise, and patients in which levosimendan is contraindicated were also excluded. Finally, patients who had received levosimendan in the previous 6 months were excluded.

Patients were enrolled by specific study investigators (SM, PA), with randomization to placebo or levosimendan carried out by a designated employee of the hospital's pharmacy department who was not aware of the patients' data. The placebo and active drug infusions were indistinguishable, and both patients and investigators were blinded to treatment allocation. In parallel with the placebo infusion (500 mL 5% glucose solution), the active treatment (levosimendan 12.5 mg in 500 mL 5% glucose solution) was infused after 48 h of stable conditions, starting at 0.05 µg/kg/min (starting dose), and progressively increased up to 0.2 µg/kg/min, based on patient clinical status and blood pressure, until the entire infusion had been administered.

The protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethics Board (Cardiology Centre Ethical Committee, N° S199/312), and it was performed in compliance with institutional guidelines and with the Declaration of Helsinki. All patients provided written informed consent before entering the study.

Study procedures

A scheme of the study procedures is shown in Figure 1. All patients belonged to a cohort of HF patients regularly followed at our HF Unit. The patients had initially been hospitalized for worsening of their HF, and they were invited to participate in the study once they had been stabilized for at least 24 h, if they fulfilled the study inclusion/exclusion criteria. Their complete medical history, physical examination, and blood sample tests were recorded both before the treatment infusions and 24 h after the end of the treatment infusions, and the following were included: NYHA class, BNP, haemoglobin and creatinine levels, and blood urea nitrogen. Two‐dimensional standard echocardiography evaluation was also performed. Standard spirometry and DLCO measurements were performed before and 24 h after the treatment infusions, always before CPET. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) and vital capacity were measured in triplicate and calculated according to the American Thoracic Society criteria,25 using a mass flow sensor (SensorMedics 2200, Sensor Medics Co., Yorba Linda, CA, USA). DLCO was measured by the single‐breath constant‐expiratory‐flow technique (SensorMedics 229D, Sensor Medics Co.26). Dilution of CH₄ was used to measure alveolar volume.

Figure 1.

Scheme of the study protocol. CPET, cardiopulmonary exercise test; PFT, Pulmonary Function Test; HF, heart failure; DLCO, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity.

All patients had previously performed at least one CPET, which is routinely performed in our HF clinical follow‐up programme to optimize patient follow‐up. The prior CPET combined with the clinical conditions upon study entry was used to choose patients' personalized ramp exercise protocol, which was aimed at achieving peak exercise in 10 min.27 CPET was performed on a cycle ergometer (SensorMedics Ergo 800S, Sensor Medics Co.) before and 24 h after treatment infusions. If the exercise duration was <7 min, the CPET was repeated the following day; in these cases, the laboratory measurements were also repeated. Expiratory O₂, CO_2, and VE were measured breath by breath (Vmax 229D, Sensor Medics Co.). Peak VO₂ was considered as the highest VO₂ achieved during the exercise (mean, 20 s). The anaerobic threshold was measured as the V‐slope analysis of the plot for carbon dioxide production (VCO₂) vs. VO₂, on equal scales,28 and confirmed by changes in the ventilatory equivalent and end‐tidal oxygen pressure and carbon dioxide pressure (PetCO₂). The VO₂ vs. work‐rate relationship was calculated throughout the exercise. The VE vs. VCO₂ relationship was calculated as the slope of the linear relationship between VE and VCO₂ from the beginning of the loaded exercise to the end of the isocapnic buffering period. The ratios between VE and VCO₂ and VO₂ were calculated at the anaerobic threshold.29 Oxygen pulse was calculated as VO₂/heart rate. Exercise‐induced periodic breathing was defined as a cyclic fluctuation of ventilation during exercise.30 Twelve‐lead electrocardiograms were also continuously recorded (Case 800, Marquette, Milwaukee, WI, USA). Blood pressure was measured during CPET every 2 min, by sphygmomanometer.

Study endpoints

The primary endpoint was peak VO₂ changes after the placebo and levosimendan infusions. The secondary endpoints were changes in BNP and VE/VCO₂ slope after the treatment administrations.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 13.0 software (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Continuous variables were expressed as means ± standard deviation (SD), and discrete variables as absolute numbers and percentages. Comparisons between the two treatment groups at baseline were performed using unpaired t‐tests for normally distributed variables, and Mann–Whitney U‐test for non‐normally distributed variables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Differences between the effects of infusion in the two treatment groups were assessed by computing the interaction term (infusion × treatment) in a repeated measures analysis of covariance. Correlations between changes in BNP, peak VO_2, and the other evaluated parameters were investigated using linear regression analysis. The required sample size was determined as 42, to be sufficient to detect a peak VO₂ difference of 2 mL/min/kg with an SD of 2, with 90% power and α = 0.05.

Results

Characteristics of the study group

Forty‐two patients who fulfilled the study inclusion/exclusion criteria were enrolled in the study: 19 patients received placebo and 23 received levosimendan. At study run‐in, the mean NYHA classes were 3.2 ± 0.4 and 3.3 ± 0.4 for placebo and active treatment, respectively. The baseline characteristics were well balanced between the two groups (Table 1). The HF treatments were in accordance with international guidelines (Table 1), and they were maintained during the study.

Table 1.

Baseline characteristics of the study population, according to treatment group

Characteristic	Treatment group		P‐values
	Placebo (n = 19)	Levosimendan (n = 23)
Male [n (%)]	16 (84)	19 (83)	ns
Age (years)	68.2 ± 9	70.3 ± 9.4	ns
Diabetes [n (%)]	3 (16)	4 (17)	ns
Hypertension [n (%)]	11 (58)	14 (61)	ns
Current smoker [n (%)]	1 (5)	2 (8)	ns
Ischaemic cardiomyopathy [n (%)]	11 (58)	12 (52)	ns
Left ventricle ejection fraction (%)	25 ± 6	25 ± 7	ns
Telediastolic volume (mL)	213 ± 78	187 ± 63	ns
Telesystolic volume (mL)	161 ± 69	142 ± 59	ns
Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (mmHg)	48 ± 13	45 ± 14	ns
NYHA class	3.2 ± 0.4	3.3 ± 0.4	ns
Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors [n (%)]	11 (58)	15 (65)	ns
Angiotensin receptor blockers [n (%)]	8 (42)	8 (35)	ns
Aldosterone‐blocking agents [n (%)]	14 (74)	18 (78)	ns
β‐blockers [n (%)]	19 (100)	23 (100)	ns
Diuretics [n (%)]	19 (100)	23 (100)	ns
Nitrates [n (%)]	6 (31)	7 (30)	ns
Cardioaspirin [n (%)]	11 (58)	12 (52)	ns

Data are expressed as means ± standard deviation, or n and %.

NYHA, New York Heart Association; ns, not significant.

Clinical, laboratory, and spirometry parameters

The infusions started approximately 3 h after the clinical, blood, and spirometry tests had been completed, which means after 48 to 72 h of clinical stabilization. The mean infusion rates were 16 ± 4 mL/h for placebo and 14 ± 4 mL/h for levosimendan (equivalent to 0.82 µg/kg/min levosimendan) (P = 0.34). The mean infusion durations were 31.3 ± 3.5 and 37.7 ± 4.0 h for placebo and active treatments, respectively (P = 0.28). Clinical, blood, and spirometry parameters in the two groups of patients before and 24 h after the end of the treatment infusions are reported in Table 2. Before the infusions, there were no significant differences between the two study groups for any of the investigated parameters, although there was a tendency towards a worse kidney function in the placebo group.

Table 2.

Changes in the laboratory and spirometry parameters pre‐infusion and post‐infusion for the placebo and levosimendan treatments

Parameter	Placebo		P‐value	Levosimendan		P‐value	P‐value between treatmentsa
	Pre‐infusion	Post‐infusion		Pre‐infusion	Post‐infusion
HR rest (bpm)	72.2 ± 9.1	67 ± 9.1	0.04	72.9 ± 10.4	78.4 ± 13.8	0.015	0.002
Hb (g/dL)	12.4 ± 1.7	12.3 ± 1.8	ns	12.4 ± 1.5	12.2 ± 1.5	ns	ns
BNP (pg/mL)	1042 ± 811	1043 ± 867	ns	1163 ± 897	510 ± 543	<0.001	<0.001
Creatinine (mg/dL)	1.7 ± 0.6	1.8 ± 0.5	ns	1.5 ± 0.5	1.6 ± 0.5	ns	ns
BUN (mg/dL)	95 ± 46	90 ± 28	ns	77 ± 36	79 ± 40	ns	ns
FEV1 (L)	1.8 ± 0.4	1.89 ± 0.4	ns	2.0 ± 0.53	2.1 ± 0.6	0.02	ns
FEV1 (%pred)	70 ± 14	71 ± 13	ns	79 ± 17	85 ± 20	0.01	ns
VC (L)	2.65 ± 0.6	2.66 ± 0.6	ns	2.7 ± 0.71	2.8 ± 0.7	ns	ns
VC (%pred)	76 ± 16	75 ± 13	ns	82 ± 18	86 ± 19	0.02	0.03
DLCO (mL/mmHg/min)	16.3 ± 3.9	16.9 ± 3.9	ns	14.9 ± 4.2	14.3 ± 4.1	ns	0.003
DLCO (%pred)	66 ± 12	68 ± 12	ns	64 ± 16	61 ± 14	ns	ns
Va (L)	4.3 ± 0.8	4.4 ± 1.4	ns	4.3 ± 1.0	4.4 ± 1.0	ns	ns

Data are expressed as means ± standard deviation.

BNP, brain natriuretic peptide; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; DLCO, lung diffusion for carbon monoxide adjusted for haemoglobin; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; HR, heart rate; Hb, haemoglobin; Va, alveolar volume; VC, vital capacity.

^aAssessed by the infusion × treatment interaction.

Following the treatments, there was no significant change in the placebo group for the mean NYHA class (3.2 ± 0.4 to 3.1 ± 0.5, P = 0.15), while it was significantly reduced in the levosimendan group (3.3 ± 0.4 to 2.1 ± 0.3, P < 0.001) (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

New York Heart Association (NYHA) class changes with placebo (left) and levosimendan (right). ns, non‐significant; asterisk, P < 0.001.

BNP also showed no changes with the placebo infusion (1042 ± 811 to 1043 ± 867 pg/mL, P = 0.9), but it was decreased significantly with the levosimendan infusion (1163 ± 897 to 509 ± 543 pg/mL, P <0.001) (Figure 3 A).

Figure 3.

Changes in B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) (A), peak oxygen consumption (VO₂) (B), and ventilation/CO₂ production (VE/VCO₂) slope (C) in patients treated with placebo and levosimendan. *, P < 0.02.

Improvements in FEV₁ and VC, but not in DLCO, were also observed in the levosimendan‐treated patients (Table 2).

Cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters

The pre‐infusion and 24‐h post‐infusion CPET data are reported in Table 3. A minor peak VO₂ increase was observed after the placebo treatment, although it did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.09), while the patients treated with levosimendan showed a significant peak VO₂ improvement (Figure 3 B; Table 3; P = 0.005). Similarly, the peak workload showed no change after placebo treatment, but it significantly increased after levosimendan (Table 3; P = 0.002). The VE/VCO₂ slope also showed no change after placebo treatment, but it significantly decreased after levosimendan (Figure 3 C; Table 3; P = 0.001).

Table 3.

Changes in the cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters pre‐infusion and post‐infusion for the placebo and levosimendan treatments

Parameter	Placebo		P‐value	Levosimendan		P‐value	P‐value between treatmentsa
	Pre‐infusion	Post‐infusion		Pre‐infusion	Post‐infusion
VO2 anaerobic threshold (L/min)	0.47 ± 0.14	0.56 ± 0.15	0.06	0.52 ± 0.13	0.54 ± 0.1	ns	ns
Peak VO2 (L/min)	0.71 ± 0.16	0.75 ± 0.18	0.07	0.68 ± 0.13	0.76 ± 0.13	0.006	ns
Peak VO2 (mL/kg/min)	9.5 ± 1.7	10.0 ± 2.1	0.09	9.8 ± 1.7	11.0 ± 1.9	0.005	ns
Peak workload (W)	41 ± 19	42 ± 20	ns	41 ± 14	48 ± 13	0.002	0.03
Peak O2 pulse (mL/beat)	8.4 ± 2.4	8.6 ± 2.2	ns	7.3 ± 2.2	7.4 ± 2.1	ns	ns
Peak heart rate (beat/min)	88 ± 18	90 ± 22	ns	98 ± 26	106 ± 27	0.004	ns
Peak PetCO2 (mmHg)	26 ± 4	26 ± 3	ns	27 ± 6	29 ± 4	0.04	0.06
Peak PetO2 (mmHg)	121 ± 3	121 ± 3	ns	120 ± 6	120 ± 6	0.06	ns
Peak VE (L/min)	39.2 ± 8.2	43.8 ± 7.1	0.08	39.2 ± 9.6	39.7 ± 9.6	ns	ns
Peak respiratory quotient peak	1.09 ± 0.15	1.10 ± 0.14	ns	1.13 ± 0.08	1.12 ± 0.11	ns	ns
Peak VCO2 (L/min)	0.79 ± 0.23	0.85 ± 0.26	0.06	0.77 ± 0.16	0.86 ± 0.19	0.015	ns
VO2/workload slope (mL/min/W)	9.0 ± 1.5	9.3 ± 1.1	ns	8.8 ± 1.8	9.2 ± 1.6	ns	ns
VE/VCO2 slope	44.0 ± 11	43.4 ± 10.3	ns	41.9 ± 10	36.6 ± 6.4	0.001	0.03

Data are expressed as means ± standard deviation.

VO₂, oxygen consumption; Pet, end‐tidal pressure; VE, ventilation; VCO₂, CO₂ production.

^aAssessed by the infusion × treatment interaction.

There were some significant correlations between the pre‐infusion and post‐infusion BNP and peak VO₂ changes for the patients in the levosimendan treatment group. In particular, the BNP reduction correlated with the reduction in the anaerobic threshold of VO₂ (r = −0.398; P < 0.01), the VE/VCO₂ slope reduction (r = −0.497; P < 0.001), and the VE/VO₂ reduction (r = −0.488; P < 0.001). Similarly, the peak VO₂ increase correlated with the VE/VCO₂ slope reduction (r = −0.463; P < 0.002), the peak workload increase (r = 0.784; P < 0.001), and the peak PetCO₂ increase (r = 0.444; P < 0.004).

Discussion

In the present study, we assessed the effects of a single levosimendan infusion vs. placebo in patients with ADHF, using CPET. With the levosimendan treatment, in parallel with a reduction in the resting BNP, there was an improvement in lung mechanics, but not in DLCO. We also observed a significant increase in peak VO₂ and a significant decrease in VE/VCO₂ slope. Of note, BNP, peak VO₂, and VE/VCO₂ parameters were all associated with HF severity and prognosis. Moreover, an improvement in peak VO₂ is considered a pivotal marker to assess the efficacy of a therapy, and it is considered as a strong criterion to include, exclude, maintain, or withdraw a subject from a heart‐transplant list.31, 32

The populations that have been studied by most of the previous trials regarding inotropic agents were composed of patients with worsening HF, for whom it is difficult, if not impossible, to perform evaluations of functional capacity. Indeed, in this setting, any drug efficacy evaluation is limited to the clinical outcome, which is influenced by several uncontrolled variables, and to a few measured parameters and mainly haemodynamic variables and BNP values.

The patients included in the present study were all admitted to the HF Unit because of HF worsening, although when they were enrolled in this study, their ADHF was under stabilized conditions. We chose a peak VO₂ < 12 mL/kg/min as the cut‐off for the inclusion in the present study because this is the cut‐off that has been used to assess patients who are candidates for heart transplantation if they are under treatment with β‐blockers, as all of the patients in the present study were.4, 31

At present, there remain some controversies about the efficacy of levosimendan in the setting of patients with ADHF. Indeed, in a recent study, Altenberger et al. 33 reported that intermittent ambulatory treatment with levosimendan in patients with ADHF improved functional capacity, as evaluated by 6‐min walk test, and quality of life, although this did not reach significance. However, the dose of levosimendan used by Altenberger et al. 33 was the lowest that has been used compared with other studies in the same patient population. Our patients and those of Altenberger et al. 33 shared some similarities; that is, in both cases, the patients with HF were able to exercise. However, there were also some differences with the Altenberger et al. 33 study, which included ambulatory patients who appeared likely to have had more prolonged stabilization compared with those in the present study. Moreover, we used a higher dose of levosimendan than Altenberger et al. 33 Finally, our study provides favourable results, but it was limited to a single levosimendan infusion, so that we do not know whether repeated infusions will provide similar results.

In the present study, NYHA class and BNP significantly decreased after the levosimendan infusion. Both are relevant clinical findings showing the efficacy of levosimendan infusion in this setting of ADHF patients. The NYHA class and >50% BNP reduction were observed over a very short time (2.5–3.0 days), and both are relevant and unexpected in their extent for a population of clinically stable patients. Previously, few reports have shown any reduction in BNP after levosimendan infusion, although the previous observations were on unstable patients.19, 20, 21, 22 Of note, the BNP reduction we report here showed strong correlations with VO₂, VE/VO₂, and VE/VCO₂ at the anaerobic threshold. This confirms the strong dependence of the anaerobic threshold on the haemodynamic pattern.34, 35 Resting heart rate increased after levosimendan infusion and decreased with placebo. The former is an expected finding for a vasodilating drug as is levosimendan, while the limited heart rate reduction with placebo is a likely effect of concomitant therapy.

FEV₁, VC, and DLCO are reduced in chronic HF patients, who usually show a restrictive pattern and alveolar capillary membrane dysfunction.35 Indeed, DLCO has been reported to correlate with HF prognosis and severity.6, 35 In terms of the spirometry data in the present study, we observed a small but significant improvement in the lung mechanics in the levosimendan‐treated patients, although there were no changes in DLCO. In the HF lung, mechanical improvements are frequently observed as a consequence of lung fluid reduction.36, 37 However, we did not observe DLCO changes. This finding is not unexpected, and indeed, the same result has been observed shortly after ultrafiltration, where lung mechanics improved and DLCO was unchanged.35 Similar findings have been reported during high‐altitude exposure, where DLCO decreases shortly after high‐altitude exposure because of lung fluid accumulation, whereas restoration of gas exchange needs prolonged exposure.38, 39

To the best of our knowledge, CPET has never been performed before to assess levosimendan efficacy. We observed a relevant and parallel amelioration of all of the major CPET‐derived parameters after levosimendan infusion. Of note, VO₂ at peak exercise and at anaerobic threshold, VE/VCO₂ slope, and PetCO₂ are strong tools to assess HF severity.3 In contrast, in the placebo group, there was only a trend toward VO₂ increase both at anaerobic threshold and under peak exercise, which is likely to be an effect of concomitant therapy for post‐acute decompensation.

A few study limitations should be acknowledged here. Firstly, we limited our observation to a single drug infusion, so that we do not know if it applies to subjects needing repeated levosimendan infusions. Secondly, we have performed a short‐term evaluation of levosimendan infusion. Therefore, we cannot say whether its benefit persists and how long it lasts in our population. Thirdly, we studied patients who were able to perform CPET. Accordingly, we excluded patients with more severe HF. Finally, our patients were free from HF comorbidities, which might have per se influenced their outcomes.

In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to describe the effects of levosimendan in terms of CPET. Our results show that levosimendan promoted peak VO₂ and VE/VCO₂ slope amelioration in parallel with a reduction in BNP. Our observations provide the basis for the use of levosimendan in the post‐acute phase of HF. Although the present study was limited to a single levosimendan infusion, it now provides a strong rationale to test the effects of multiple infusions of levosimendan at regular intervals in a population of patients with ADHF.

Conflict of interest

Orion Pharma supplied the placebo and levosimendan but had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation, or writing of this manuscript. Daniele Andreini and Gianluca Pontone are members of the speaker bureau of GE Healthcare. Gianluca Pontone is a member of the speaker bureau of Bayer, HeartFlow, and Medtronic. Piergiuseppe Agostoni is a consultant for Bayer and Menarini.

Mushtaq, S. , Andreini, D. , Farina, S. , Salvioni, E. , Pontone, G. , Sciomer, S. , Volpato, V. , and Agostoni, P. (2015) Levosimendan improves exercise performance in patients with advanced chronic heart failure. ESC Heart Failure, 2: 133–140. doi: 10.1002/ehf2.12047.