title: [Diastolic heart failure].
abstract: Until recently, the development of heart failure was related exclusively to the acute or chronic impairment in systolic function. Currently, the concept of heart failure not sustained primarily by a significant reduction in contractility has been clearly defined by several epidemiological and pathophysiological observations. This condition, defined as 'diastolic heart failure' or 'heart failure with preserved systolic function' can be related to different cardiac diseases with a higher prevalence in the elderly. Afterload mismatch situations, such as hypertension or aortic stenosis, as well as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or pericardial diseases, determine this common clinical syndrome more frequently. Currently, the treatment of diastolic heart failure is still empirical, as there are few and inconclusive data coming from evidence-based medicine.
authors.affiliation: Struttura Complessa di Cardiologia, Azienda Ospedaliera G. Brotzu, Cagliari.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corda
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Orrù
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saiu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giardina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porcu
mesh_terms: D003971:Diastole; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis