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The use of levosimendan in children with cancer with severe acute cardiac dysfunction: case series and a review of the literature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2013

Alvise Tosoni ,
Anne I. Dipchand  and
Hadi Mohseni-Bod
Alvise Tosoni
Affiliation:
Division of Critical Care Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Anne I. Dipchand
Affiliation:
Labatt Family Heart Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hadi Mohseni-Bod*
Affiliation:
Division of Critical Care Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
*
Correspondence to: H. Mohseni-Bod, MD, MRCPCH (UK), Division of Critical Care Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G1X8. Tel: +1 416 813 7654, ext 28436; Fax: +1 416 813 7299; E-mail: hadi.mohseni-bod@sickkids.ca
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Abstract

We report the use of levosimendan in two febrile, neutropenic children with cancer – one post bone marrow transplant – with acute heart failure following chemotherapy. Initial management with epinephrine, milrinone, and diuresis was unsuccessful. Infusion of levosimendan without a loading dose was added to the ongoing heart failure therapy, which resulted in persistent symptomatic and echocardiographic improvement without major side effects.

Keywords

Levosimendanheart failurechemotherapybone marrow transplantationchildren
Type
Brief Reports
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , June 2014 , pp. 524 - 527
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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