RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Heart failure: Highlights from new consensus guidelines
JF Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
JO Cleve Clin J Med
FD Cleveland Clinic
SP 13
OP 14
VO 67
IS 1
A2 Wilke, William S.
A1 Young, James
YR 2000
UL http://www.ccjm.org/content/67/1/13.abstract
AB New guidelines for managing heart failure urge physicians to identify patients likely to benefit from therapy, obtain an echocardiogram to measure the ejection fraction, and, in patients with systolic dysfunction (ie, an ejection fraction ≤ 40%), institute therapy with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and a beta-blocker if at all possible. Digoxin and diuretics can relieve symptoms but do not affect the mortality rate. Spironolactone in low nondiuretic doses may reduce mortality when added to baseline drug regimens. The proper role of angiotensin II receptor blocking agents has yet to be determined.