Dobutamine-induced changes of left atrial two-dimensional deformation predict clinical and neurohumoral improvement after levosimendan treatment in patients with acutely decompensated chronic heart failure

Abstract Background We investigated whether dobutamine-induced changes of the left atrial (LA) two-dimensional speckle tracking parameters are related to clinical and neurohumoral improvement after levosimendan treatment in patients with acutely decompensate chronic heart failure (ADCHF). Methods Forty-six patients with ADCHF and LV ejection fraction Results The change (%) of LA-contractile strain and LV longitudinal stain rate were independent determinants of improvement of NYHA class, and BNP and increase in the 6-min walk test distance (b=−0.59, b=−0.65, b=0.41, and b=−0.44, b=−0.40, b=0.60, respectively, p 2 =0.46 to 0.58 for NYHA improvement and from r 2 =0.44 to 0.70, for the BNP reduction and from r 2 =0.49 to 0.60, for increase in the 6-min walk test distance (p 2 =0.46 to 0.58, p=0.02. Conclusion In patients with ADCHF, left atrial two-dimensional speckle tracking parameters in addition to LV longitudinal strain rate may detect those patients who are prone to improve after levosimendan treatment.