Vascular phenotypes of acute decompensated vs. new-onset heart failure: treatment implications

Acute heart failure (HF) is a frequent and life-threatening syndrome with heterogeneous clinical, haemodynamic, and neurohormonal features. This article describes the vascular phenotypes associated with acute decompensated chronic HF (ADCHF), and new-onset acute HF (NOAHF).

Worsening of chronic HF occurs with full activation of adaptive mechanisms that maintain blood pressure (BP) and systemic perfusion. Rapid onset of HF in the setting of previous normal functioning heart not only does not allow full activation of adaptive mechanisms but also generates inappropriate responses from systemic endothelium leading to low BP/hypotension. Consequently, the treatment of ADCHF is based on diuretics and vasodilators, while in NOAHF, vasoconstrictors may be required to maintain BP to allow the correction of the acute cardiac disease.

Patients with ADCHF and NOAHF present different vascular phenotypes with treatment implications.