[The best of cardiac failure in 1999]

Cardiac failure has become a major but underestimated public health problem. The EPICAL study in France confirmed the severity of this condition. In addition to the neuro-hormones, the role played by inflammatory cytokines in the progression of the disease has been emphasized. The importance of the "genetic background" in the development and evolution of cardiac failure has been demonstrated (deletion or prospective polymorphism). From the therapeutic point of view, besides the hopes raised by multisite pacing, the betablockers and spironolactone have been shown to provide major functional improvement and prolonged survival, and they take their place with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in our pharmacological arsenal. Cellular transplantation is associated with encouraging pre-clinical results which open up a new field of interest. Finally, global management, including physical rehabilitation and patient education by plury-disciplinary teams, provides medical and economic benefits. The year 1999 has been particularly rich in the field of cardiac failure from the basis of fundamental research to the organisation of health care.