Evaluation of Intravenous Levosimendan Efficacy in the Short Term Treatment of Decompensated Chronic Heart Failure.

Inclusion Criteria: * A written informed consent must be obtained for hospitalized male or female patients over 18 years old of age. * The eligible patients must be diagnosed with worsening heart failure as evidenced by dyspnea at rest, poor ejection fraction and have been treated with IV diuretics. * It is allowable for the patients to be treated with IV inotropes and vasodilators. Exclusion Criteria: The following criteria would exclude the patient from study: * invasive cardiac procedure (e.g. cardiac surgery, LVAD, cardioversion, cardiac re-synchronization), * rhythm disorders (e.g. earlier Torsades de Pointes, increased heart rate), * severe ventricular outflow obstruction, * angina, * hypotension, * uncorrected hypokalemia, * CNS (e.g. stroke, TIA), * respiratory (e.g. COPD, intubated patients, oral, * intravenous or intramuscular steroids), * renal insufficiency (e.g. increased serum creatinine, dialysis), * hepatic impairment (e.g. significant increase in liver enzymes), * decompensation from active infection and acute bleeding (e.g. severe anemia). * Female patients of child bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test and use adequate contraceptive precautions. * Also excluded is the use of amrinone and milrinone prior to randomization, a history of hypersensitivity to levosimendan or any of the excipients and previous participation in a clinical trial with any experimental treatment within the last 30 days.