Both levosimendan and dobutamine treatments result in significant reduction of NT-proBNP levels, but levosimendan has better and prolonged neurohormonal effects than dobutamine

Abstract Levosimendan and dobutamine are comparable inotropic drugs as regards their hemodynamic effects and clinical outcomes in decompensated heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to compare the effects of levosimendan and dobutamine treatment on NT-proBNP levels in patients with decompensated HF. Forty-four patients with decompensated HF and ejection fraction n =26) or dobutamine ( n =18). NT-proBNP was measured at baseline and 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after the initiation of drug infusion. NT-proBNP levels at baseline, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h were 16,879±2437, 16,004±2635, 12,881±2305 and 11,078±2092 pg/ml, respectively, in the levosimendan group and 16,031±3463, 15,908±3806, 12,271±3299 and 14,840±4009 pg/ml, respectively, in the dobutamine group. NT-proBNP decreased significantly at 24 h in response to both levosimendan and dobutamine treatment ( p p p =n.s. vs. baseline), in contrast, NT-proBNP reduction continued for up to 48 h in the levosimendan group ( p