BACKGROUND: Several therapies commonly used for the treatment of acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS) present some well-known limitations and have been associated with an early increase in the risk of death. There is, therefore, an unmet need for new pharmacologic agents for the early management of AHFS that may improve both short- and long-term outcomes. AIM: To review the recent evidence on emerging pharmacologic therapies in AHFS. METHODS: A systematic search of peer-reviewed publications was performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE and Clinical Trials.gov from January 1990 to August 2007. The results of unpublished or ongoing trials were obtained from presentations at national and international meetings and pharmaceutical industry releases. Bibliographies from these references were also reviewed, as were additional articles identified by content experts. RESULTS: Cumulative data from large studies and randomised trials suggest that therapies with innovative mechanisms of action may safely and effectively reduce pulmonary congestion or improve cardiac performance in AHFS patients. CONCLUSION: Some investigational agents for the management of AHFS are able to improve haemodynamics and/or clinical status. In spite of these promising findings, no new agent has demonstrated a clear benefit in terms of long-term clinical outcomes compared to placebo or conventional therapies.
BACKGROUND: Several therapies commonly used for the treatment of acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS) present some well-known limitations and have been associated with an early increase in the risk of death. There is, therefore, an unmet need for new pharmacologic agents for the early management of AHFS that may improve both short- and long-term outcomes. AIM: To review the recent evidence on emerging pharmacologic therapies in AHFS. METHODS: A systematic search of peer-reviewed publications was performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE and Clinical Trials.gov from January 1990 to August 2007. The results of unpublished or ongoing trials were obtained from presentations at national and international meetings and pharmaceutical industry releases. Bibliographies from these references were also reviewed, as were additional articles identified by content experts. RESULTS: Cumulative data from large studies and randomised trials suggest that therapies with innovative mechanisms of action may safely and effectively reduce pulmonary congestion or improve cardiac performance in AHFS patients. CONCLUSION: Some investigational agents for the management of AHFS are able to improve haemodynamics and/or clinical status. In spite of these promising findings, no new agent has demonstrated a clear benefit in terms of long-term clinical outcomes compared to placebo or conventional therapies.
Authors: Mihai Gheorghiade; Muthiah Vaduganathan; Andrew Ambrosy; Michael Böhm; Umberto Campia; John G F Cleland; Francesco Fedele; Gregg C Fonarow; Aldo P Maggioni; Alexandre Mebazaa; Mandeep Mehra; Marco Metra; Savina Nodari; Peter S Pang; Piotr Ponikowski; Hani N Sabbah; Michel Komajda; Javed Butler Journal: Heart Fail Rev Date: 2013-03 Impact factor: 4.214
Authors: Sean P Collins; Peter S Pang; Christopher J Lindsell; Demetrios N Kyriacou; Alan B Storrow; Judd E Hollander; J Douglas Kirk; Chadwick D Miller; Richard Nowak; W Frank Peacock; Miguel Tavares; Alexandre Mebazaa; Mihai Gheorghiade Journal: Eur J Heart Fail Date: 2010-08-25 Impact factor: 15.534
Authors: Marco Metra; John R Teerlink; G Michael Felker; Barry H Greenberg; Gerasimos Filippatos; Piotr Ponikowski; Sam L Teichman; Elaine Unemori; Adriaan A Voors; Beth Davison Weatherley; Gad Cotter Journal: Eur J Heart Fail Date: 2010-08-22 Impact factor: 15.534
Authors: Anna Bauer-Mehren; Markus Bundschus; Michael Rautschka; Miguel A Mayer; Ferran Sanz; Laura I Furlong Journal: PLoS One Date: 2011-06-14 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: John R Teerlink; Marco Metra; Valerio Zacà; Hani N Sabbah; Gadi Cotter; Mihai Gheorghiade; Livio Dei Cas Journal: Heart Fail Rev Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 4.214