RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Heart failure drugs: whats new?
JF Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
JO Drug Ther Bull
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 25
OP 27
VO 38
IS 4
YR 2000
UL http://dtb.bmj.com/content/38/4/25.abstract
AB Relevant BNF section: 2 Heart failure is common, causes major disability and often shortens life. In the past, drugs such as diuretics and digoxin formed the mainstay of treatment.1 More recently, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have become a standard part of management. New developments in the drug treatment of heart failure include the possible addition of beta-blockers or spironolactone to diuretic and ACE inhibitor therapy. Also, angiotensin-II receptor antagonists have been proposed both as an alternative and as additional therapy to ACE inhibitors. Here, we discuss the place of these new approaches in the treatment of patients with heart failure due to left ventricular dysfunction.