Newer drug therapy for congestive heart failure.
BACKGROUND
The management of congestive heart failure has undergone a number of modifications over the past 5 to 10 years.


METHODS
These include assaying the role of inotropic drugs, evaluating the role of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, considering the role of intermittent inotropic infusion in ambulatory patients, and recognizing the importance of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Very recently, the important role of angiotensin II receptor blocking agents and the use of beta blockade have provided additional modalities for the control of congestive heart failure. The relative usefulness of such therapy has been reviewed in this article.


CONCLUSIONS
The management of congestive heart failure has undergone considerable change with the use of newer and more effective drugs.
Coodley
E
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University of California, Irvine, USA. coodley.eugene_l@long-beach.va.gov
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000465:Algorithms; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017616:Magnesium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011422:Propionates / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D007189:Indans; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D011422:Propionates; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; C062766:candoxatril; D000638:Amiodarone