Document Classification

Section Type: METHODS

Text: Forty-two patients with NYHA III-IV and a left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) 25 + / -6 %, were randomised to levosimendan 0. 1 microg/kg/min (n = 21) or placebo for 24 h. Before and 24 h after each treatment, we assessed : the maximal velocity (Vmax), time integral (VTI) and deceleration time (DT) of the diastolic coronary flow wave (CF) in LAD using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, pulmonary artery systolic pressure by Doppler echocardiography, E/E'ratio using Doppler imaging of mitral inflow velocity, tissue Doppler imaging of the mitral annulus and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels.