title: Review: therapeutic concepts of congestive heart failure.
abstract: The therapeutic concepts of congestive heart failure (CHF) are based on an increase in myocardial contractility and a decrease in pre- and afterload. Besides the digitalis glycosides, diuretics and vasodilators such as nitrates, hydralazine, ACE-inhibitors, calcium antagonists or prazosine are used. Furthermore, the so-called inodilators such as phosphodiesterase III inhibitors (amrinone, milrinone), dopaminergic and beta-adrenergic receptor agonists were introduced into therapy. The boone and bane of the different classes of drugs were discussed with respect to their hemodynamic and clinical properties.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Academy Erfurt, GDR.
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Haustein
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents