Heart failure development in aortic valve insufficiency

Since left ventricle can cope well with volume overload and patients remain asymptomatic for years, the pharmacological interventions which prolong this period and inhibit heart failure development may be possible. However, understanding the heart failure development in chronic aortic regurgitation is a prerequisite. In this review currently postulated mechanisms of the slow but continuous development of ventricular insufficiency in chronic aortic regurgitation are examined. Based on this analysis the preventive competence of some drugs with remodelling potential is postulated: vasodilators, growth hormone, thyroxin analogues and carnitinepalmitoyltransferase-1 inhibitors. (Ref. 36.)