Therapy Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either Levosimendan or placebo (i.e. two patients assigned Levosimendan for every one patient assigned placebo) as an intermittent dosing (every two weeks) by a 6-hour intravenous infusion (0.2 μg / kg / min without bolus) for a period of 12 weeks (6 cycles) in study patients with advanced chronic heart failure.In case of hypotension (systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg or <100 mmHg with symptoms) or clinical intolerance to the drug, the dose could be reduced to 0.01 μg /kg/min. Furtherreduction to 0.05μg/kg/min or discontinuation of the drug waspossible if these adverse effects persisted.Study treatment was administered during a maximum of 12 weeks in an ambulatory administration setting that allowed non-invasive monitoring of vital signs. During the first infusion, 24-hour ECG monitoring (either with ambulatory Holter monitoring or telemetry) was required for safety evaluations.