Hydrallazine alone in acute left ventricular failure.

Introduction The potent loop diuretics have an unrivalled place in the management of acute left ventricular failure (LVF). Few situations can be envisaged in which one of these agents cannot be given, although the therapeutic response may in many cases be poor (e.g. in renal failure). There seems little need for alternative agents to fulfil the role of loop diuretics, although the vasodilators may be such agents. Vasodilator therapy is most frequently used in endstage chronic heart failure, and hence the therapeutic response is often disappointing. The case is now reported of a patient in acute LVF who was given, partly by accident, only a vasodilator, and who subsequently made a good recovery.