Normalization of left ventricular parameters following combined pimobendan and carvedilol treatment in a case of unclassified cardiomyopathy with longstanding refractory status

A 58-year-old man with a 64-month history of unclassified cardiomyopathy developed congestive heart failure (CHF) and had been dependent on long-term intravenous positive inotropes. Combined pimobendan and carvedilol administration resulted in marked symptomatic improvement from New York Heart Association functional class IV to I. Echocardiograms showed improvement of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction from 15 to 48%, and LV end-diastolic diameter from 6.7 to 4.9 cm. This mode of therapy not only improved LV contractile function but also normalized LV volume, which was an unusual clinical course compared with the general course of advanced CHF.