[Pharmacotherapy of chronic heart failure after the first decade of 21st century].

We provide an overview of the main principles of pharmacological treatment of chronic heart failure. Chronic heart failure is considered to be an epidemic of the 21th century; in the Czech Republic, around 200,000 persons suffer from this condition. Over the last decade, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of heart failure has undergone significant progress and new knowledge arises every year. Generally accepted pharmacological treatment steps include administration of ACE inhibitors, All antagonists (ARB) or beta-blockers, discussions exists on an indication for digoxin, diuretics and lipid-lowering drugs as well as on the importance of ACE-I and ARB. The role of antiarrhythmics is unclear and 2009-2011 have brought about some completely new drug groups-If, channel blockers, factor Xa blockers, thrombin blockers and other agents.