Levosimendan as rescue therapy for acute heart failure in a patient with DMD

The longer survival of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy due to advances in clinical care has increased the incidence of Duchenne muscular dystrophy-associated cardiomyopathy, a nearly consistent feature in the third decade of life.

A 26-year-old patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy experienced severe acute heart failure triggered by pneumonia. Levosimendan was effective in improving heart function.

 

Levosimendan as Rescue Therapy for Acute Heart Failure in a Patient with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Sumanaru D, Josseran L, Essid A, Mbieleu B, Haegy I, Bergounioux J. Pediatr Cardiol. 2019 Mar;40(3):668-670. doi: 10.1007/s00246-019-02072-9. Epub 2019 Feb 22. PubMed PMID: 30796500.