Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Heart Failure V: Medical Management

Heart Failure V: Medical Management

Medical Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)The primary goals of therapy for patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) include:Relieving symptomsOptimizing volume statusSupporting oxygenation and ventilationMaintaining cardiac output (CO) and end-organ perfusionIdentifying and addressing the cause of ADHFPreventing complicationsProviding patient education on factors precipitating HF exacerbationPlanning for dischargeOngoing monitoring and assessment...

Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System

Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System

The activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to cardiac remodeling, and inhibiting the RAAS is a pharmacological target in heart failure management. As a result, neurohumoral modulation is a crucial treatment principle for managing heart failure. This approach involves using medications like ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and neutral...

Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies

Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies

Additional therapies for treating patients with heart failure (HF) may include procedural interventions, supplemental oxygen, the management of sleep disorders, and nutritional therapy.Procedural InterventionsImplantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: For patients at risk of life-threatening arrhythmias due to severe left ventricular dysfunction, an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) can detect and terminate these arrhythmias, preventing sudden cardiac death and improving survival rates.

Heart Failure Drugs: β-Blockers

Heart Failure Drugs: β-Blockers

β-adrenergic antagonists, commonly known as β-blockers, block the effects of sympathetic neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (ADR). They have several beneficial effects in heart failure treatment. They reduce heart rate, the force of contraction, and cardiac muscle relaxation. They also slow the atrial-ventricular conduction rate and raise the threshold for arrhythmias. The concentration of β-blockers determines their effects on bronchodilation, vasodilation, and...

Heart Failure Drugs: Diuretics

Heart Failure Drugs: Diuretics

Heart failure and kidney perfusion are interconnected in a complex way. Reduced renal perfusion and venous congestion are two significant factors that contribute to renal dysfunction in heart failure. The kidneys, primarily responsible for fluid balance in the body, are adversely affected due to compromised cardiac output and increased venous pressure. In response to reduced renal perfusion, the kidneys activate neurohumoral mechanisms to restore balance. However, these mechanisms can be...

Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents

Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents

Positive inotropic agents are commonly used as the first line of treatment for heart failure. One such agent is digoxin, derived from the genus Digitalis, which has been known for centuries but effectively utilized since 1785. However, these cardiac glycosides can have potentially toxic effects due to their mechanism of action, which involves inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase and increasing contractility. Digoxin is absorbed orally and distributed in various tissues, including the CNS. It has a long...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The use of diuretics in heart failure with congestion - a position statement from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology.

European journal of heart failure·2019

Same author

Impact of Individual Traits, Saturated Fat, and Protein Source on the Gut Microbiome.

mBio·2018

Same author

l-Carnitine in omnivorous diets induces an atherogenic gut microbial pathway in humans.

The Journal of clinical investigation·2018

Same author

Impact of chronic dietary red meat, white meat, or non-meat protein on trimethylamine N-oxide metabolism and renal excretion in healthy men and women.

European heart journal·2018

Same author

High-sensitivity troponin T, NT-proBNP and glomerular filtration rate: A multimarker strategy for risk stratification in chronic heart failure.

International journal of cardiology·2018

Same author

Dietary metabolism, the gut microbiome, and heart failure.

Nature reviews. Cardiology·2018

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in an Asynchronous Heart Failure Model Induced by Left Bundle Branch Ablation and Rapid Pacing

Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in an Asynchronous Heart Failure Model Induced by Left Bundle Branch Ablation and Rapid Pacing

Published on: December 11, 2017

Pharmacologic therapy for acute heart failure.

W H Wilson Tang¹

¹Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. tangw@ccf.org

Cardiology Clinics

|December 8, 2007

Summary

Acute heart failure syndrome (AHFS) treatment focuses on relieving congestion, primarily with diuretics. While new therapies are emerging, their long-term benefits and clinical challenges require further investigation.

Area of Science:

Cardiology
Pharmacology
Clinical Medicine

Background:

Acute heart failure syndrome (AHFS) presents significant clinical and economic burdens.
Current management of decompensated heart failure primarily relies on intravenous loop diuretics to alleviate congestion.
Despite extensive research, pharmacologic therapy development for AHFS remains a complex challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the current landscape of pharmacologic therapies for acute heart failure syndrome.
To discuss the central role of congestion relief in AHFS management.
To evaluate the status and challenges of developing novel pharmacological agents for AHFS.

Main Methods:

Literature review of current and emerging pharmacologic treatments for AHFS.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in an Asynchronous Heart Failure Model Induced by Left Bundle Branch Ablation and Rapid Pacing

Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in an Asynchronous Heart Failure Model Induced by Left Bundle Branch Ablation and Rapid Pacing

Published on: December 11, 2017

Analysis of the pathophysiology and treatment goals in acute decompensated heart failure.

Examination of clinical trial data and outcomes for various therapeutic agents.

Main Results:

Intravenous loop diuretics remain the cornerstone for managing congestion in AHFS.
Novel agents, including vasopressin receptor antagonists, have not yet demonstrated significant incremental benefits.
Vasodilator therapy, supported by natriuretic peptides like nesiritide, shows promise but lacks robust long-term outcome data.

Conclusions:

Effective pharmacologic treatment for AHFS continues to be a critical unmet need.
While several promising drugs are in clinical development, significant challenges in demonstrating long-term efficacy and safety persist.
Further research is essential to overcome existing hurdles and improve clinical outcomes in AHFS.