[Levosimendan: a new strategy in the treatment of heart failure]. / Levosimendan: nueva estrategia en el manejo de la falla cardíaca.

Congestive heart failure is a long standing health issue. Traditionally, heart failure has been treated with a wide array of drugs such as diuretics, digitalis, catecholamine and non catecholamine inotropics, although treatment with these drugs bears adverse effects, such as the generation of arrhythmia and even death. A new class of drugs has recently exerted a positive impact on the treatment of patients with heart failure; these are the calcium sensitizers that enhance myocardial contractility without increasing cytosolic calcium. Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer that, besides increasing contractility, has a vasodilating effect due to the activation of K(ATP) channels, being both mechanisms responsible for an advantageous therapeutic option. Different studies have proven the efficiency and safety profile of the drug on various scenarios and populations; thereby considering levosimendan a real and safe alternative treatment for patients with acute or chronic ventricular failure that need intravenous pharmacological support.

Levosimendan: Nueva estrategia en el manejo de la falla cardíaca / Levosimendan: A new strategy in the treatment of heart failure

La insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva se ha considerado como un grave problema de salud. De manera tradicional, la insuficiencia cardíaca ha sido manejada con diferentes fármacos, como son los diuréticos, digital, inotrópicos del tipo de las catecolaminas y no catecolaminas; sin embargo, el manejo de los mismos, también tienen efectos secundarios en donde se incluyen la génesis de las arritmias e incluso la muerte. Un nuevo grupo de drogas recientemente ha impactado en el manejo de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca aguda y crónica, estos son los sensibilizadores de calcio, que actúan incrementando la contractilidad miocárdica, sin aumentar la liberación del calcio citosólico. El levosimendan, es un sensibilizador de calcio que además de aumentar la contractilidad, posee efecto vasodilatador por activación de los canales de K(ATP), siendo ambos mecanismos los que ofrecen una opción terapéutica en la falla cardíaca. Varios estudios han comprobado la eficacia y seguridad de la droga en diferentes estadios y poblaciones, por lo que se considera en la actualidad que el uso del levosimendan es una alternativa real y segura de tratamiento en aquellos pacientes con falla ventricular aguda o crónica que necesiten soporte farmacológico endovenoso.

Congestive heart failure is a long standing health issue. Traditionally, heart failure has been treated with a wide array of drugs such as diuretics, digitalis, catecholamine and non catecholamine inotropics, although treatment with these drugs bears adverse effects, such as the generation of arrhythmia and even death. A new class of drugs has recently exerted a positive impact on the treatment of patients with heart failure; these are the calcium sensitizers that enhance myocardial contractility without increasing cytosolic calcium. Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer that, besides increasing contractility, has a vasodilating effect due to the activation of K(ATP) channels, being both mechanisms responsible for an advantageous therapeutic option. Different studies have proven the efficiency and safety profile of the drug on various scenarios and populations; thereby considering levosimendan a real and safe alternative treatment for patients with acute or chronic ventricular failure that need intravenous pharmacological support.

[Vasopressin: uses in cardiovascular practice]. / Vasopresina: usos en la práctica cardiovascular.

Vasopressin is secreted by the neurohypophysis influenced by many variables; among them the most important and known is the osmotic pressure (osmotic regulation) of body fluid. Other factors that modify this hormone's secretion are changes in blood volume and blood pressure, which contribute significantly to hemodynamic recovery. Vasopressin receptors are located in different sites, and their stimulation generate also generates different physiological responses. The receptors are of two types, V1 and V2. The usefulness of exogenous vasopressin has been proven in many clinical situations, refractory cardiac arrest, septic shock, vasodilator shock, postcardiotomy shock, and vasoplegic shock, with promising results. At present, enough scientific support exists for the use of this antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) in clinical practice.

Vasopresina: usos en la práctica cardiovascular / Vasopressin: uses in cardiovascular practice

Vasopressin is secreted by the neurohypophysis influenced by many variables; among them the most important and known is the osmotic pressure (osmotic regulation) of body fluid. Other factors that modify this hormone's secretion are changes in blood volume and blood pressure, which contribute significantly to hemodynamic recovery. Vasopressin receptors are located in different sites, and their stimulation generate also generates different physiological responses. The receptors are of two types, V1 and V2. The usefulness of exogenous vasopressin has been proven in many clinical situations, refractory cardiac arrest, septic shock, vasodilator shock, postcardiotomy shock, and vasoplegic shock, with promising results. At present, enough scientific support exists for the use of this antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) in clinical practice.