title: [Diuretic treatment in patients with chronic heart failure: evidences, experiences, and current perspectives].
abstract: Congestion is a fundamental clinical sign in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Diuretics are the mainstay treatment for congestion but, so far, no randomized trial has ever shown any beneficial effect of diuretics on mortality in patients with CHF. It is also unclear how and when diuretics should be up, or down titrated, or when their use can be safely stopped. In this review, we discuss current evidence regarding the clinical use of diuretics. We also highlight the need for more clinical trials to explore the short- and long-term safety, efficacy and clinical benefits of different classes of diuretics, used alone or in combination, in patients with CHF.
authors.affiliation: Academic Cardiology Unit, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pellicori
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche, Scienze Radiologiche e Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi, Brescia.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carubelli
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D013599:Systole
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics