title: Vasopressin receptor antagonists in the management of acute heart failure.
abstract: Vasopressin is a potent vasoconstrictor and plays a significant role in the regulation of volume homeostasis. Several non-peptide vasopressin receptor antagonists (vaptans) have emerged as promising drugs in the management of acute heart failure. Results of early trials with tolvaptan (selective vasopressin subtype 2 receptor antagonist) and conivaptan (dual vasopressin subtypes 1a and 2 receptor antagonist) have demonstrated improvement in the fluid status, osmotic balance and haemodynamic profile in patients with heart failure presenting with signs and symptoms of decompensation. Nevertheless, their comparative long-term safety and efficacy remains to be determined in large-scale clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. tangw@ccf.org
authors.forename: W H Wilson
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhavnani
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Francis
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D065092:Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019468:Disease Management; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D065092:Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin