Acute efficacy of combined therapy of carperitide and nicorandil for acute decompensated heart failure with left ventricular systolic dysfunction

A 64-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Initial treatment with carperitide (0.01 µg/kg/min) had little effect. Since she had a borderline systolic blood pressure (i.e., a systolic BP between 90 and 110 mm Hg) and atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response, nicorandil (0.1 mg/kg/h) was added to carperitide. This combined therapy achieved rapid improvement of ADHF. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with ADHF and borderline systolic blood pressure in whom the combination of carperitide and nicorandil was safe and effective.