The calcium sensitizer levosimendan attenuates endotoxin-evoked myocardial dysfunction in isolated guinea pig hearts

Abstract
Sepsis-evoked myocardial dysfunction is possibly due to decreased myofilament calcium sensitivity, and a calcium sensitizer may thus specifically improve contractility in sepsis by enhancing myofilament calcium sensitivity. We examined whether the calcium sensitizer levosimendan mitigates myocardial dysfunction and improves contractility in hearts isolated from endotoxin-treated guinea pigs.