[Therapy of chronic left heart failure]

Chronic heart failure is an increasingly frequent clinical syndrome, characterized by reduced physical performance, dyspnea and an adverse prognosis. It is associated with age, indicating that it will become more common. Diagnosis requires the characterization of cardiac dysfunction and a precise definition of the underlying cardiac disease. Treatment guidelines of the cardiac societies, which were updated 2005, recommend therapy with ACE-inhibitors, AT1 receptor antagonists, beta-blockers, aldosterone antagonists and digitalis. It is essential, however, to consider the individual circumstances such as underlying disease, age as well as the frequent complications and comorbidities.