Recent advances in the drug treatment of heart failure Journal Articles

abstract

• SummaryA number of important questions surrounding the treatment of systolic congestive heart failure have been answered by randomised clinical trials completed within the past 2 years. In particular, these studies have established that high-dose angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition is more beneficial than low dose therapy, and that angiotensin II receptor antagonists are an acceptable alternative in patients unable to tolerate ACE inhibitors. Digoxin has been shown to be the only inotropic agent not associated with increased mortality, while amiodarone exerts a modest survival benefit in arrhythmiaprone patients. Beta-blockers appear to be beneficial for selected patients although their precise role remains to be defined by ongoing studies.

authors

• McAlister, FA
• Teo, Koon

status

• published 

publication date

• November 1, 1998

has subject area

• 11 Medical and Health Sciences (FoR)
• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists (MeSH)
• Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists (MeSH)
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (MeSH)
• Cardiotonic Agents (MeSH)
• General & Internal Medicine (Science Metrix)
• Heart Failure (MeSH)
• Humans (MeSH)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic (MeSH)

published in

• Postgraduate Medical Journal  Journal

keywords

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
• Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
• Cardiotonic Agents
• Heart Failure
• Humans
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1136/pgmj.74.877.658

start page

• 658

end page

• 661

volume

• 74

issue

• 877