title: "Silent" heart failure as observed by a French cardiologist.
abstract: As the precursor of overt heart failure, with its grim prognosis, "silent" heart failure is a concept that bears examination. The pathophysiology of congestive heart failure and the mechanisms of the impact of hypertension on the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, and silent and overt heart failure are investigated. In addition, the reasons why diuretics, especially potassium-sparing diuretics such as spironolactone, remain the most effective treatment of mild congestive heart failure, and their role in preventing the evolution of silent to overt heart failure are explained.
authors.affiliation: University of Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castaigne
mesh_terms: D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D014661:Vasoconstriction; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D014665:Vasodilator Agents