Cardiac outcome prevention effectiveness of glucocorticoids in acute decompensated heart failure: COPE-ADHF study.
BACKGROUND
Newly emerging evidence showed that glucocorticoids could potentiate natriuretic peptides' action by increasing the density of natriuretic peptide receptor A, leading to a potent diuresis and a renal function improvement in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Therefore, glucocorticoid therapy may be used in patients with ADHF.


METHODS
One hundred two patients with ADHF were randomized to receive glucocorticoids or standard treatment. Change from baseline in serum creatinine (SCr) at day 7 and cardiovascular death within 30 days were recorded. The study was terminated early because of slow site initiation and patient enrolment.


RESULTS
Glucocorticoid therapy seemed to be well tolerated. There was a remarkable SCr reduction after 7 days treatment. The change from baseline in SCr is -0.14 mg/dL in glucocorticoid group versus -0.02 mg/dL in standard treatment group (P < 0.05). Although sample size is limited, a cardiovascular death reduction at 30 days was observed in glucocorticoid group with odds ratio of 0.26 (3 deaths in glucocorticoid vs. 10 deaths in standard treatment group, P < 0.05). The survival benefit associated with glucocorticoid therapy persisted during the follow-up. Patient-assessed dyspnea and physician-assessed global clinical status were also improved in glucocorticoid group.


CONCLUSIONS
Limited data indicate that glucocorticoid therapy may be used safely in patients with ADHF in short term. Glucocorticoid therapy did not cause heart failure deterioration. Further investigations are warranted.
Heart Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Chao
C
Liu
Kunshen
K
Liu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005938:Glucocorticoids