New positive inotropic agents in the treatment of left ventricular dysfunction
De Luca, L.; Proietti, P.; Palombaro, G.L.; Battagliese, A.; Celotto, A.; Bucciarelli Ducci, C.; Fedele, F.
Italian Heart Journal Official Journal of the Italian Federation of Cardiology 5(Suppl 6): 63s-67s
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1129-471X PMID: 15185917 Document Number: 584025
Three major classes of inotropic agents have been clinically evaluated in patients with left ventricular dysfunction: a) agents that increase the intracellular concentration of cyclic adenosine monophosphate by stimulating the beta-adrenergic receptor or inhibiting phosphodiesterase; b) drugs that increase the intracellular sodium concentration; c) the new calcium-sensitizing drugs. This review will focus on the newest drug for each of the above-mentioned classes of inotropic agents. Moreover, we present a new protocol which provides the use of levosimendan in patients with post-ischemic left ventricular dysfunction.