The efficacy of simendan in the treatment of acute heart failure and its impact on NT-proBNP
The efficacy of simendan in the treatment of acute heart failure and its impact on NT-proBNP
Objective: Simendan is a calcium sensitizer that enhances myocardial contractility but does not affect ventricular diastole. Simendan also has a vasodilatation effect, which causes coronary artery resistance and venous volume blood vessel relax, thereby improving coronary blood supply. This study adopted simendan on the basis of conventional anti-heart failure treatment to explore a new approach for the treatment of heart failure.
Patients and methods: Eighty patients with heart failure were randomly and equally divided into an observation group and control group according to the digital table method. The control group was given a conventional anti-heart failure treatment. The observation group was treated with simendan on the basis of the control group. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LEVF), stroke volume (SV), NT-proBNP, K+, and Ca2+ were measured before and after the treatment. The clinical efficacy and adverse reactions after treatment were compared. The 6-minute walking distance (6MWT) was recorded on the 60th day after treatment.
Results: There were no significant differences in LVEF and SV between the two groups before the treatment. They were significantly increased after treatment and were significantly higher in the observation group than that in the control group (p < 0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group (92.50%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (67.50%). There was no statistical difference in the occurrence of adverse reactions between the two groups (p > 0.05). The 6MWT in the observation group was 452.63±86.51 meters, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (366.85±70.46 meters) (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in plasma NT-proBNP levels between the two groups (p > 0.05). The plasma NT-proBNP level was significantly lower in the observation group than that in the control group after treatment (p < 0.05). Serum K+ and Ca2+ were not significantly changed after treatment in the control group (p > 0.05). Serum K+, but not Ca2+, was significantly elevated in the observation group.
Conclusions: Simendan can significantly reduce plasma NT-proBNP level; thus, it is relatively safe and effective for the treatment of acute heart failure (AHF).