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Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021.
World J Methodol. Jul 20, 2021; 11(4): 187-198
Published online Jul 20, 2021. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v11.i4.187
Table 1 Characteristics and main findings of included studies
Ref.
Population
Sample size
Intervention
Duration of follow-up
Main findings
Owan et al[10], 2008ADHF with renal dysfunction72Standard therapy vs standard therapy plus nesiritide (bolus of 0.2 mcg/kg followed by 0.01 mcg/kg per min)72 hNesiritide produced greater reduction in blood pressure and preserved renal function
Bart et al[11], 2012ADHF with worsened renal function188Ultrafiltration therapy vs stepped pharmacologic therapy (intravenous diuretics)96 hStepped pharmacologic-therapy with intravenous diuretics was superior to ultrafiltration
Fedele et al[12], 2014ADHF and renal impairment21Levosimendan (loading dose 6 μg/kg + 0.1 μg/kg per min) for 24 h vs placebo72 hLevosimendan improves the laboratory markers of renal function and renal hemodynamic parameters
Chen et al[13], 2013AHF and renal dysfunction360Low dose dopamine (2 μg/kg per min for 72 h) vs low dose nesiritide (0.005 μg/kg per min for 72 h) vs placebo72 hNeither low dose dopamine nor low dose nesiritide improved renal function when added to diuretic therapy
Inomata et al[14], 2017HF with diuretic resistance and renal impairment81Additive tolvaptan (≤ 15 mg/d) vs increased furosemide (≤ 40 mg/d)7 dAdditive tolvaptan increased urine volume compared with patients receiving an increased dose of furosemide
Lannemyr et al[15], 2018Chronic HF and impaired renal function32Levosimendan (loading dose 12 μg/kg + 0.1 μg/kg per min) vs dobutamine (7.5 μg/kg per min) for 75 min60 mo and 75 mo after treatmentLevosimendan is the preferred inotropic agent compared to dobutamine
Table 2 Changes in clinical parameters of the included studies
Intervention
Clinical parameters evaluated

Ref.
Creatinine (mg/dL)
Change in BUN (mg/dL)
Cystatin C (mg/L)
Weight loss (kg)
Cumulative urine volume (mL)
Baseline
Mean changes
Baseline
Mean changes
Baseline
Mean changes
Mean changes
NesiritideOwan et al[10], 20081.85 ± 0.710.04 ± 0.4444.8 ± 23.3-1.3 ± 12.8NANA-2.75 ± 3.27NA
Owan et al[10], 2008 (placebo)1.65 ± 0.420.09 ± 0.2538.3 ± 16.62.4 ± 6.8NANA-4.25 ± 3.42NA
Chen et al[13], 20131.650.02NANA1.660.07NA8574
Chen et al[13], 2013 (placebo)1.700.02NANA1.860.11NA8296
Table 3 Changes in clinical parameters of the included studies
Intervention
Clinical parameters evaluated

Ref.
Creatinine (mg/dL)
Change in BUN (mg/dL)
Cystatin C (mg/L)
Weight loss (kg)
Urine output (mL/d)
BaselineMean changesBaselineMean changesBaselineMean changesBaselineMean changesBaselineMean changes
FurosemideInomata et al[14], 20171.60.20 ± 0.27NANANANA61-2.1 ± 2.61251 ± 54079 ± 341
Table 4 Changes in clinical parameters of the included studies
Intervention
Clinical parameters evaluated

Ref.
Creatinine (mg/dL)
Change in BUN (mg/dL)
Cystatin C (mg/L)
GFR (mL/min)
Urine output (mL/d)
Baseline
72 h
Baseline
72 h
Baseline
72 h
Baseline
72 h
Baseline
72 h
LevosimendanFedele et al[12], 20141.76 ± 0.371.51 ± 0.545.08 ± 22.1933.14 ± 16.632577.5 ± 700.62083 ± 731.438.71 ± 7.9453.34 ± 14.931766.4 ± 514.22663.5 ± 721.2
Fedele et al[12], 2014 (placebo)1.6 ± 0.21.7 ± 0.244.4 ± 13.147 ± 12.82498.5 ± 2622470 ± 409.943.33 ± 7.9940.24 ± 6.581571.4 ± 125.31778.51 ± 798.1
Ref.Creatinine (mg/dL)Change in BUN (mg/dL)RBF (mL/min)GFR (mL/min)FF
BaselineTreatmentBaselineTreatmentBaselineTreatmentBaselineTreatmentBaselineTreatment
Inomata et al[14], 2017NANANANA426 ± 197518 ± 27636.5 ± 18.344.5 ± 19.00.146 ± 0.0800.143 ± 0.069
Table 5 Changes in clinical parameters of the included studies
Intervention
Clinical parameters evaluated

Ref.
Creatinine (mg/dL)
Change in BUN (mg/dL)
Cystatin C (mg/L)
Weight loss (kg)
Cumulative urine volume (mL)
Baseline
Mean changes
Baseline
Mean changes
Baseline
Mean changes
Baseline
Mean changes
Dopamine/dobutamineChen et al[13], 2013 (dopamine)1.590.00NANA1.710.12NANA8524
Chen et al[13], 2013 (placebo)1.630.02NANA1.660.11NANA8296
Ref.Creatinine (mg/dL)Change in BUN (mg/dL)RBF (mL/min)GFR (mL/min)FF
BaselineTreatmentBaselineTreatmentBaselineTreatmentBaselineTreatmentBaselineTreatment
Lannemyr et al[15], 2018 (dobutamine)NANANANA397 ± 121499 ± 15447.1 ± 14.547.3 ± 16.90.193 ± 0.0700.161 ± 0.075
Table 6 Changes in clinical parameters of the included studies
Intervention
Clinical parameters evaluated
StudyCreatinine (mg/dL)
Change in BUN (mg/dL)
Cystatin C (mg/L)
Weight loss (kg)
Urine output (mL/d)
Baseline
Mean changes
Baseline
Mean changes
Baseline
Mean changes
Baseline
Mean changes
Baseline
Mean changes
TolvaptanInomata et al[14], 20171.50.06 ± 0.32NANANANA62-2.1 ± 1.81306 ± 494459 ± 514
Table 7 Changes in clinical parameters of the included studies
Intervention
Clinical parameters evaluated

Study
Creatinine (mg/dL)
Change in BUN (mg/dL)
GFR (mL/min per 1.73 m2)
Weight loss (Ib)
Urine output (mL/d)
Baseline
Mean changes
Baseline
Mean changes
Mean changes
Baseline
Mean changes
Baseline
Mean changes
UltrafiltrationBart et al[11], 20122.09-0.04 ± 0.5350.55.68 ± 18.291.67 ± 10.9423412.1 ± 11.3NANA
Bart et al[11], 2012 (pharmaco-logic therapy)1.90+0.23 ± 0.7048.712.54 ± 24.810.93 ± 14.6020712.6 ± 8.5NANA