Authors

• Karla Savić — University Hospital Centre “Sestre milosrdnice” Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-1339-8922
• Ozren Vinter — University Hospital Centre “Sestre milosrdnice” Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-4236-7594
• Ivo Darko Gabrić — University Hospital Centre “Sestre milosrdnice” Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0003-4719-4634
• Marko Boban — University Hospital Centre “Sestre milosrdnice” Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-6129-575X
• Krešimir Kordić — University Hospital Centre “Sestre milosrdnice” Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-9707-6946
• Matias Trbušić — University Hospital Centre “Sestre milosrdnice” Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0001-9428-454X

Keywords

advanced heart failure, levosimendan, vericiguat

DOI

Full Text

**Introduction**: Advanced heart failure (HF) patients, particularly those ineligibles for heart transplantation (HT) or left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), remain at high risk for recurrent hospitalizations and mortality despite optimal medical therapy (OMT). Vericiguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator, enhances myocardial and vascular function by increasing cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production, while intermittent levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer with inotropic and vasodilatory properties, provides hemodynamic support. When added to OMT, both agents offer potential therapeutic benefits in stabilizing advanced HF through complementary mechanisms. (1-3) **Patients and Methods**: This retrospective study examined three patients with advanced heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who received vericiguat and intermittent levosimendan in addition to OMT. The primary endpoint was a reduction in NT-proBNP levels over one year, reflecting HF severity. Secondary endpoints included improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), right ventricular function (TAPSE), and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity. **Results**: After one year of combination therapy, all patients demonstrated significant reductions in NT-proBNP levels, indicating improvement in HF severity. Additionally, LVEF improved across patients, from a baseline of 25-30% to 35-40%. Improvements in TAPSE and TR severity reflected enhanced right ventricular function and reduced pressure load on the right side of the heart. These changes were associated with fewer hospitalizations, enhanced exercise tolerance, and an improved quality of life. **Conclusion**: When added to OMT, vericiguat and intermittent levosimendan effectively improved multiple cardiac function parameters and reduced NT-proBNP levels in patients with advanced HFrEF. These findings suggest that this combination therapy could be a viable long-term option for patients ineligible for HT or MCS, with further research warranted to confirm these results in larger populations.

Literature

1. Armstrong PW, Pieske B, Anstrom KJ, Ezekowitz J, Hernandez AF, Butler J, et al. Vericiguat in Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction. N Engl J Med. 2020 May 14;382(20):1883–93. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1915928
2. Chew DS, Li Y, Bigelow R, Cowper PA, Anstrom KJ, Daniels MR, et al. Cost-Effectiveness of Vericiguat in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: The VICTORIA Randomized Clinical Trial. Circulation. 2023 October 3;148(14):1087–98. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.063602
3. Masarone D, Kittleson MM, Pollesello P, Marini M, Iacoviello M, Oliva F, et al. Use of Levosimendan in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure: An Update. J Clin Med. 2022 October 29;11(21):6408. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11216408