García-González, Martín JMora-Martín, Manuel deLópez-Fernández, SilviaLópez-Díaz, JavierMartínez-Sellés, ManuelRomero-García, JoséCordero, MarcoLara-Padrón, AntonioMarrero-Rodríguez, FranciscoGarcía-Saiz, M. del MarAldea-Perona, Ana2014-03-202014-03-202013-12García-González MJ, de Mora-Martín M, López-Fernández S, López-Díaz J, Martínez-Sellés M, Romero-García J, et al. Rationale and design of a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled multicenter trial to study efficacy, security, and long term effects of intermittent repeated levosimendan administration in patients with advanced heart failure: LAICA study. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2013 ; 27(6):573-90920-3206http://hdl.handle.net/10668/1538Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;BACKGROUND Advanced heart failure (HF) is associated with high morbidity and mortality; it represents a major burden for the health system. Episodes of acute decompensation requiring frequent and prolonged hospitalizations account for most HF-related expenditure. Inotropic drugs are frequently used during hospitalization, but rarely in out-patients. The LAICA clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of monthly levosimendan infusion in patients with advanced HF to reduce the incidence of hospital admissions for acute HF decompensation. METHODS The LAICA study is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial. It aims to recruit 213 out-patients, randomized to receive either a 24-h infusion of levosimendan at 0.1 μg/kg/min dose, without a loading dose, every 30 days, or placebo. RESULTS The main objective is to assess the incidence of admission for acute HF worsening during 12 months. Secondarily, the trial will assess the effect of intermittent levosimendan on other variables, including the time in days from randomization to first admission for acute HF worsening, mortality and serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS The LAICA trial results could allow confirmation of the usefulness of intermittent levosimendan infusion in reducing the rate of hospitalization for HF worsening in advanced HF outpatients.enAdvanced heart failureLevosimendanEfficacySafetyRepeated administrationOutpatientsInsuficiencia cardíacaResultado del tratamientoPauta de administración medicamentosaPacientes AmbulatoriosMorbilidadMortalidadHospitalizaciónCardiotónicosEstudios multicéntricos como asuntoEstudios prospectivosEnsayos clínicos controlados como asuntoMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Cardiovascular Diseases::Heart Diseases::Heart FailureMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation::Quality of Health Care::Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms::Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care)::Outcome Assessment (Health Care)::Treatment OutcomeMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Therapeutics::Drug Therapy::Drug Administration ScheduleMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Patients::OutpatientsMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Data Collection::Vital Statistics::MorbidityMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Data Collection::Vital Statistics::MortalityMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Therapeutics::Patient Care::HospitalizationMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Chemical Actions and Uses::Pharmacologic Actions::Therapeutic Uses::Cardiovascular Agents::Cardiotonic AgentsMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Evaluation Studies as Topic::Clinical Trials as Topic::Multicenter Studies as TopicMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic::Epidemiologic Studies::Cohort Studies::Longitudinal Studies::Prospective StudiesMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Evaluation Studies as Topic::Clinical Trials as Topic::Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic::Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic::Pragmatic Clinical Trials as Topicresearch article23887741open access10.1007/s10557-013-6476-71573-7241PMC3830203