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Valsartan in chronic heart failure.
1Department of Pharmacy: Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, PO Box 26901, Oklahoma City, OK 73190-5040, USA. toni-ripley@ouhsc.edu
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|February 3, 2005
Summary
Valsartan is a safe and effective alternative for heart failure patients who cannot tolerate angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. It is not recommended for combination therapy with ACE inhibitors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Heart failure is a complex condition requiring effective treatment strategies.
- Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) represent a class of drugs targeting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
- Valsartan is the first ARB approved for chronic heart failure management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of valsartan for heart failure treatment.
- To determine the suitability of valsartan for formulary inclusion.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of OVID and PubMed (1983-June 2004).
- Inclusion of English-language studies on ARBs and heart failure.
- Evaluation of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and randomized clinical trials of valsartan.
Main Results:
- Valsartan demonstrates efficacy as an alternative to ACE inhibitors in patients intolerant to them.
- Common adverse effects include renal impairment, elevated creatinine/potassium, and dizziness.
- Potential racial differences in efficacy require further investigation, but current recommendations are race-independent.
Conclusions:
- Valsartan is a safe and effective option for heart failure patients with ACE inhibitor intolerance.
- Combination therapy with valsartan and ACE inhibitors is not supported by current evidence.