Pharmacotherapeutic principles of fluid management in heart failure

Link to article at PubMed

Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2021 Feb 9:1-16. doi: 10.1080/14656566.2020.1850694. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Heart failure is a major public health concern that is expected to increase over the decades to come. Despite significant advances, fluid overload and congestion remain a major therapeutic challenge. Vascular congestion and neurohormonal activation are intricately linked and the goal of therapy fundamentally aims to reduce both. Areas covered: The authors briefly review a number of core concepts that elucidate the link between fluid overload and neuro-hormonal activation. This is followed by a review of heart-kidney interactions and the impact of diuresis in this setting. Following an in-depth review of currently available pharmacological agents, the rationale and evidence behind their use, the authors end with a brief note on novel agents/approaches to aid volume management in HF. Expert opinion: A number of non-pharmacological advances in the management of volume overload in heart failure, though promising - are associated with a number of shortcomings. Pharmacological therapy remains the cornerstone of volume management. A number of novel approaches, utilizing existing therapies as well as the emergence of new agents over the past decade bode well for the vulnerable HF population.

PMID:33560159 | DOI:10.1080/14656566.2020.1850694

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *