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Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine (RCM) is published by IMR Press from Volume 19 Issue 1 (2018). Previous articles were published by another publisher in Open Access under a CC-BY (or CC-BY-NC-ND) licence, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with MedReviews, LLC.
Open Access
Review
The Use of Vasoactive Therapy for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: Hemodynamic and Renal Considerations
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1
Heart Failure Recovery and Research Program, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA
Rev. Cardiovasc. Med. 2007, 8(S5), 22–29;
Published: 20 November 2007
Abstract
Although diuretics remain the most commonly used intravenous medication for acute
decompensated heart failure, vasoactive agents play an important role in select patient
populations. Inotropes and pressor agents are critical in order to maintain blood pressure
and cardiac output in a small subset of patients, and can preserve and even improve
renal function. However, they should not be used in the majority of patients with
preserved cardiac output. Vasodilators improve hemodynamics and symptoms in normotensive
individuals. Their influence on renal function is less clear cut, although
more recent data suggest a neutral effect.
Keywords
B-type natriuretic peptide
Heart failure
Renal insufficiency