title: Pharmacologic stabilization and management of acute heart failure syndromes in the emergency department.
abstract: Effective use of diuretics, vasodilators, and inotropes to stabilize acute heart failure (AHF) relies on matching the most appropriately tailored therapy to specific clinical profiles. Some of the drugs may be harmful, and therefore the emphasis should be on patient safety and the attempt to minimize the deleterious effects of these therapies. To date, successful treatment has been limited because no agent has been shown to reduce postdischarge mortality or readmission rates, and patients frequently remain symptomatic after treatment. Ongoing research is needed to further examine these agents and to develop novel therapies to address the unmet needs of the patient who has AHF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. jdkirk@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: J Douglas
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Parissis
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filippatos
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D045283:Natriuretic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D045283:Natriuretic Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009599:Nitroprusside; D005996:Nitroglycerin