Pharmacologic management of heart failure: neurohormonal agents.
Intense neurohormonal activation is characteristic of heart failure and contributes to the progression of ventricular dysfunction in this syndrome. Drugs that diminish neurohormonal arousal have a beneficial effect upon morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure. The pathophysiology of neurohormonal activation in chronic heart failure is reviewed in this article to provide a basis for understanding intervention with agents that block the actions of the renin-angiotensin and sympathetic systems. Also covered is the description of the pharmacologic actions of these two classes of drugs and patient outcomes associated with their use.
Moser
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DK
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000450:Aldosterone; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000450:Aldosterone