Which of the following drugs can prolong survival in patients with CHF?
Correct Answer: Losartan
Description: Congestive heart failure (CHF) continues to be a lethal end stage of cardiovascular diseases caused by hypertension, coronary heart disease, valve deformity, diabetes and cardiomyopathy. Current therapy for CHF can maintain function, improve quality of life, and prolong survival. Diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE), and digoxin remain in standards of therapy. Diuretics remains an important component of the symptomatic management of patients with CHF, but severely II patients may require additional agents. One option frequently used in patients who exhibit resistance to loop diuretics is an infusion of low-dose dopamine. Combination diuretics may effectively increase urine output, with the addition of thiazide or spironolactone. Documentation of the clinical benefit of ACE inhibitors represents the most important advance in therapeutics for CHF in the last decade. ACE inhibitors improve left the ventricular function, and survival and unless contraindicated, patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction should receive high dose ACE inhibitor with a diuretic if there is peripheral edema. For patients who cannot take an ACE inhibitor the combination of hydralazine and nitrates may offer some prognostic benefit. Digoxin has been the traditional first drug of choice for CHF, but with protracted controversy about its efficacy and safety.
Category:
Pharmacology
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