Abstract: A method for the treatment or prevention of cardiac hypertrophy or diastolic heart failure resulting from cardiac hypertrophy by administering levosimendan or its metabolite (II) or any of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts to a mammal in need of such treatment.

Abstract: Therapeutically active compounds of formula (I): in which R1 to R4 means hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, carboxyalkyl, hydroxyalkyl or halogenalkyl, or R2 and R3 form a ring of 5-7 carbon atoms, R5 to R9 means hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, acyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, amino, acylamino, alkylamino, aryloxy, halogen, cyano, nitro, carboxy, alkylsufonyl, sulfonamido or trifluoromethyl, wherein each aryl residue defined above by itself or as a part of another group may be substituted, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof. The compounds increase the calcium sensitivity of contractile proteins of the cardiac muscle and are thus useful in the treatment of congestive heart failure.

Abstract: Therapeutically active compounds of formula (I) in which R1 to R4 means hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, carboxyalkyl, hydroxyalkyl or halogenalkyl, or R2 and R3 form a ring of 5-7 carbon atoms. R5 to R9 means hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, acyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, amino, acylamino, alkylamino, aryloxy, halogen, cyano, nitro, carboxy, alkylsulfonyl, sulfonamido or trifluoromethyl, wherein each aryl residue defined above by itself or as a part of another group may be substituted, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof. The compounds increase the calcium sensitivity of contractile proteins of the cardiac muscle and are thus useful in the treatment of congestive heart failure.

Abstract: A method for obtaining direct dilatation of the coronary arteries by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a phospholamban inhibitor is described. Compounds which are effective in relieving the inhibitory effects of phospholamban on cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase are also described.

Abstract: A method for the prevention and treatment of stunning of the heart subsequent to ischemia-reperfusion is described. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a phospholamban inhibitor to a patient. Phospholamban inhibitors relieve the inhibitory effect of phospholamban on cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca.sup.2+ -ATPase.