title: [Current status of treatment of chronic cardiac insufficiency].
abstract: When there is no correctable cause, cardiac failure continues to progress and outcome is poor. However several controlled clinical trials have shown that several therapeutic agents relieve symptoms, improve exercise tolerance and, for some, reduce mortality. Patients in NYHA functional class II, III and IV, whose systolic function is impaired should be treated by digitalis, diuretics and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors. These therapeutic agents are complementary and each of them are required. Moreover a study has shown that the impairment of patients in NYHA functional class I (who are still asymptomatic but with a ventricular ejection fraction < 35%) could be slowed by angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors. In each case, it is of paramount importance to exclude treatable causes of heart failure because the best the symptomatic treatment can do is slow the inevitable worsening of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Service de soins intensifs, hôpital cardiologique, Lille, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Théry
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asseman
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bauchart
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loubeyre
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D004232:Diuretics
vernacular_title: Actualités sur le traitement de l'insuffisance cardiaque chronique.