Overview of emerging pharmacologic agents for acute heart failure syndromes.
BACKGROUND
Several therapies commonly used for the treatment of acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS) present some well-known limitations and have been associated with an early increase in the risk of death. There is, therefore, an unmet need for new pharmacologic agents for the early management of AHFS that may improve both short- and long-term outcomes.


OBJECTIVE
To review the recent evidence on emerging pharmacologic therapies in AHFS.


METHODS
A systematic search of peer-reviewed publications was performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE and Clinical Trials.gov from January 1990 to August 2007. The results of unpublished or ongoing trials were obtained from presentations at national and international meetings and pharmaceutical industry releases. Bibliographies from these references were also reviewed, as were additional articles identified by content experts.


RESULTS
Cumulative data from large studies and randomised trials suggest that therapies with innovative mechanisms of action may safely and effectively reduce pulmonary congestion or improve cardiac performance in AHFS patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Some investigational agents for the management of AHFS are able to improve haemodynamics and/or clinical status. In spite of these promising findings, no new agent has demonstrated a clear benefit in terms of long-term clinical outcomes compared to placebo or conventional therapies.
De Luca
Leonardo
L
Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, European Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Mebazaa
Alexandre
A
Filippatos
Gerasimos
G
Parissis
John T
JT
Böhm
Michael
M
Voors
Adriaan A
AA
Nieminen
Markku
M
Zannad
Faiez
F
Rhodes
Andrew
A
El-Banayosy
Ali
A
Dickstein
Kenneth
K
Gheorghiade
Mihai
M
D000241:Adenosine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005043:Etiocholanolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010480:Perhexiline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000077464:Simendan; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013577:Syndrome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D019332:Endothelin-1; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D000077464:Simendan; D005043:Etiocholanolone; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D000241:Adenosine; D010480:Perhexiline; C468128:Istaroxime