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Overview of emerging pharmacologic agents for acute heart failure syndromes
Author(s) -
De Luca Leonardo,
Mebazaa Alexandre,
Filippatos Gerasimos,
Parissis John T.,
Böhm Michael,
Voors Adriaan A.,
Nieminen Markku,
Zannad Faiez,
Rhodes Andrew,
ElBanayosy Ali,
Dickstein Kenneth,
Gheorghiade Mihai
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejheart.2008.01.002
Subject(s) - medicine , intensive care medicine , heart failure , clinical trial , medline , placebo , alternative medicine , pathology , law , political science
Background: Several therapies commonly used for the treatment of acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS) present some well‐known limitations and have been associated with an early increase in the risk of death. There is, therefore, an unmet need for new pharmacologic agents for the early management of AHFS that may improve both short‐ and long‐term outcomes. Aim: To review the recent evidence on emerging pharmacologic therapies in AHFS. Methods: A systematic search of peer‐reviewed publications was performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE and Clinical Trials.gov from January 1990 to August 2007. The results of unpublished or ongoing trials were obtained from presentations at national and international meetings and pharmaceutical industry releases. Bibliographies from these references were also reviewed, as were additional articles identified by content experts. Results: Cumulative data from large studies and randomised trials suggest that therapies with innovative mechanisms of action may safely and effectively reduce pulmonary congestion or improve cardiac performance in AHFS patients. Conclusion: Some investigational agents for the management of AHFS are able to improve haemodynamics and/or clinical status. In spite of these promising findings, no new agent has demonstrated a clear benefit in terms of long‐term clinical outcomes compared to placebo or conventional therapies.