Drug Treatment for Chronic Systolic Heart Failure

Abstract

Drug treatment of chronic systolic heart failure usually includes angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, or an angiotensin II receptor blocker, and a beta blocker, as prognostic benefit of these agents has been demonstrated in a large body of clinical trials. Depending on the stage of the disease and concomitant factors, an aldosterone antagonist and/or a digitalis glycoside may provide additional benefit. Most patients also receive a diuretic for symptomatic relief. Conversely, some drugs may precipitate or aggravate chronic systolic heart failure.

Key words

chronic heart failure - drug treatment - medical therapy

References

• 1 Hunt S A, Abraham W T, Chin M H, Feldman A M, Francis G S, Ganiats T G, Jessup M, Konstam M A, Mancini D M, Michl K, Oates J A, Rahko P S, Silver M A, Stevenson L W, Yancy C W. American College of Cardiology Foundation . 2009 Focused update incorporated into the ACC/AHA 2005 guidelines for the diagnosis and management of heart failure in adults. A report of the American college of cardiology foundation/American heart association task force on practice guidelines developed in collaboration with the international society for heart and lung transplantation.  J Am Coll Cardiol. 2009;  53 e1-e90
• 2 Dickstein K, Cohen-Solal A, Filippatos G, McMurray J J, Ponikowski P, Poole-Wilson P A, Strömberg A, van Veldhuisen D J, Atar D, Hoes A W, Keren A, Mebazaa A, Nieminen M, Priori S G, Swedberg K, Vahanian A, Camm J, De Caterina R, Dean V, Dickstein K, Filippatos G, Funck-Brentano C, Hellemans I, Kristensen S D, McGregor K, Sechtem U, Silber S, Tendera M, Widimsky P, Zamorano J L. Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure 2008 of the European Society of Cardiology . ESC guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure 2008: the task force for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure 2008 of the European society of cardiology. Developed in collaboration with the heart failure association of the ESC (HFA) and endorsed by the European society of intensive care medicine (ESICM).  Eur Heart J. 2008;  29 2388-2442
• 3 Arzneimittelkommission der deutschen Ärzteschaft . Empfehlungen zur Therapie der chronischen Herzinsuffizienz. 3rd edition.  Arzneiverordnungen in der Praxis. 2007;  34 (S 3) http://www.akdae.de
• 4 Brown N J, Byiers S, Carr D, Maldonado M, Winter B A. Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor use associated with increased risk of ACE inhibitor-associated angioedema.  Hypertension. 2009;  54 516-523
• 5 Krum H, Abraham W T. Heart failure.  Lancet. 2009;  373 941-955
• 6 Slørdal L, Spigset O. Heart failure induced by non-cardiac drugs.  Drug Saf. 2006;  29 567-586