PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ACUTE HEART FAILURE. WHAT’S NEW?

Pathophysiology of heart failure.

1 The pathophysiological definition of heart failure states that " cardiac failure is an inability of the heart to deliver blood (and therefore oxygen) at a rate commensurate with the requirements of the metabolising tissues at rest or during light exercise. This leads to characteristic systemic pathophysiological responses (neural, hormonal, renal and others), symptoms and signs.'' However, th...

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Pathophysiology of congestive heart failure.

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome characterized by impaired structure and/or function of the heart, leading to dyspnea and fatigue at rest or with exertion. The pathophysiology of heart failure is complex, and there is no single lesion. Any form of heart disease can lead to heart failure. Most heart failure can be explained by well-recognized etiologic factors, though ostensibly healthy pati...

New Drugs for Acute Heart Failure

Acute heart failure is a major health problem responsible for several million hospitalizations worldwide each year. Standard therapy has not changed for long time and includes diuretics and variable use of vasodilators or inotropes. Recently Nesiritide and Levosimendan are two drugs for the treatment of acute heart failure which have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and E...

Pathophysiology of heart failure following myocardial infarction.

The structural and functional abnormalities that lead to cardiac death are coronary artery disease and left ventricular abnormalities related to remodelling (left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and left ventricular fibrosis). Aldosterone adversely affects all of these processes. It produces both a vasculopathy and left ventricular dysfunction and fibrosis. Endot...