title: Nesiritide for the treatment of congestive heart failure.
abstract: Nesiritide (Natrecor) is a recombinant form of the human B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) that has been shown, through several studies, to have beneficial natriuretic, diuretic and vasodilatory effects in the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF). Nesiritide mimics the actions of endogenous BNP by binding to and stimulating receptors in the heart, kidney and vasculature. Nesiritide functions as both a potent venous and arterial vasodilator and has been shown to improve cardiac haemodynamics more rapidly and to a greater extent than intravenous nitroglycerin, as well as having fewer side effects. When compared in an open-label trial, nesiritide has also been shown to be less proarrhythmic than dobutamine. The major adverse effect of nesiritide, as with other vasodilators, is symptomatic hypotension, which occurred infrequently in clinical trials. Overall, nesiritide represents an effective and safe therapeutic option for the treatment of decompensated CHF.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Ohio State University Heart Center, Columbus, Oh 43210-1252, USA. srinivasiyengar@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Srinivas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iyengar
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trupp
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D004232:Diuretics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D045283:Natriuretic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D045283:Natriuretic Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain