Nesiritide: a new therapy for the treatment of heart failure

Human BNP serves to compensate for deteriorating cardiac function causing preload and afterload reductions, natriuresis, diuresis, suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and endothelin-1, and lowering of norepinephrine. Based on its unique pharmacologic profile, nesiritide results in clinically significant balanced vasodilation of arteries and veins, and may be well suited for patients presenting with various scenarios of decompensated CHF usually due to volume overload (NYHA classes II-IV). More than 1000 subjects have participated in clinical trials with nesiritide and more than 55,000 patients have been treated with nesiritide since it was approved for use in August 2001. Unlike nitroglycerin, tachyphylaxis did not appear to occur with Natrecor. The complete efficacy profile of nesiritide included preload reduction (PCWP and RAP), reductions in pulmonary artery pressures, afterload reduction (systemic vascular resistance), and increases in cardiac index and stroke volume index (which are dose-dependent and not the result of a direct inotropic effect), without increasing heart rate. Unlike inotropes, the beneficial hemodynamic effects produced by nesiritide do not cause an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO(2)), an important consideration for patients with acutely decompensated heart failure. Because Nesiritide is not an inotrope, it does not affect myocardial contractility, as does a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist, or a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor. As a result, nesiritide is not arrhythmogenic. Nesiritide should be considered for patients presenting with acutely typical or useful decompensated heart failure, especially those with dyspnea at rest or with minimal activity.