The role of aldosterone in heart failure and the clinical benefits of aldosterone blockade.
Aldosterone has a variety of detrimental effects on the heart and vasculature and is increasingly recognized as an important target in chronic heart failure, as illustrated by the Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study. In this article, the evidence supporting the cardiovascular effects of aldosterone in humans and the proven benefits of aldosterone-receptor antagonists in heart failure shall be discussed.
Dawson
Adelle
A
Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee, UK. a.z.dawson@dundee.ac.uk
Davies
Justine I
JI
Struthers
Allan D
AD
D000450:Aldosterone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004719:Endomyocardial Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology; D000077545:Eplerenone; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000209:etiology
D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D013148:Spironolactone; D000450:Aldosterone; D000077545:Eplerenone