[Nitrate derivatives in heart failure: physiopathological, clinical, and prognostic features]

The authors make a review about the indications and benefits of the use of nitrates in the treatment of acute and chronic cardiac failure, considering their use for a short and a long period. The advantages are reported, showing the reduction of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and the increase of systolic output and consequently of the cardiac eject. This effect may be traceable both to the benefic effect on the mitral valve (perhaps incontinent), that in the pericadic "contraist". The reduction of the filling pressures increases the tolerance to the effort, delays the choice of the time for cardiac transplant and prolongs the survival with amelioration.