The effects of levosimendan use on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with decompensated heart failure

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The present study was intended to investigate the effect of levosimendan on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in hospitalized patients with decompensated heart failure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study was designed as a prospective controlled clinical trial. A total of 50 patients with decompensated heart failure who were admitted to our hospital were included in the present study. Patients with stage III-IV heart failure based on the New York Heart Association, with systolic blood pressure > 100 mm Hg and with left ventricular ejection fraction of < 35%, were selected for the study population. The selected patients were divided into groups, levosimendan and furosemide. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups based on demographics, basal echocardiographic and basal laboratory data. No difference was determined in basal hsCRP (mg/l) levels between the group admitted levosimendan infusion and the furosemide group (9.99 ±6.2, 9.23 ±6.4, p = 0.66). However, the hsCRP levels measured at the 24(th) h (38.34 ±32.1 vs. 12.97 ±12.3, p < 0.001), the 48(th) h (31.13 ±29.9 vs. 12.44 ±10.1, p = 0.003) and the 72(nd) h (27.41 ±26.9 vs. 9.89 ±8.4, p = 0.002) were significantly higher in the levosimendan infusion group than the furosemide group. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that hsCRP levels were significantly higher in the levosimendan infusion group than the furosemide group. Such an outcome could be related to myocyte injury and/or the amplification of the inflammatory response due to levosimendan.