The anti-inflammatory and haemodynamic effects of levosimendan on advanced heart failure patients: a meta-analysis of published studies

OBJECTIVE: Increasing evidence from randomized controlled trials shows the anti-inflammatory and haemodynamic effects of levosimendan in advanced heart failure (AdHF), however, conflicting results have been reported in some studies. The aim of this study was to estimate the anti-inflammatory and haemodynamic effects of levosimendan on AdHF (registration number: INPLASY202250097). METHODS: The MEDLINE, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.com and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for studies published in English up to April 2019. Data were extracted from applicable articles. Meta-analyses were performed to assess interleukin (IL)-6, cardiac index, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class efficacy outcomes, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies were included (211 patients who received levosimendan and 193 controls). Meta-analyses showed that the levosimendan group displayed significantly reduced IL-6 (standardized mean difference [SMD] −1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.44, −0.66; I (2 ) = 50.9%), improved cardiac index (SMD 0.59; 95% CI 0.29, 0.88; I(2) = 0.0%); reduced PAP (SMD −1.22; 95% CI −1.91, −0.53; I(2) = 89.7%) and improved NYHA functional class (SMD −1.66; 95% CI −2.27, −1.04; I(2) = 74.6%) versus controls. CONCLUSIONS: Levosimendan infusion was beneficial in patients with AdHF, displayed by anti-inflammatory and improved haemodynamic effects, and improved NYHA functional class.