Heart failure treatment myocardial infarction

A newer drug, epierenone, has a structure similar to that of spironolactone and a similar mechanism of action. It was initially approved for use in the treatment of hypertension but it can now be used in the treatment of patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and congestive heart failure after myocardial infarction. It has a half-life of approximately 5 hours and undergoes hepatic metabolism to inactive metabolites as its main route of elimination. Clinical experience with epierenone is currently limited. 

A review of 29 studies (including 19 single-dose studies) on the use of cardioselective beta blockers in patients with reversible airway disease indicated that in patients with mild to moderate disease, the short-term use of cardioselective beta blockers does not cause significant adverse respiratory effects. Information on the effects in patients with more severe or less reversible disease, or on the frequency or severity of acute exacerbations was not available. Another review indicated that when low doses of cardioselective beta blockers are given to patients with mild, intermittent or persistent asthma, or moderate persistent asthma, and heart failure or myocardial infarction, the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks. However,... 

Conversely, an open randomised study analysed the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on cardiovascular episodes in 1006 women, aged 45-58years, whose treatment began early after their menopause [9 -]. A total of 502 women took HRT (17-p-oestradiol plus norethisterone acetate) and 504 placebo. Women were followed up for 16 years. The primary end point was the combination of death, heart failure or myocardial infarction. Sixteen women in the HRT group developed the primary composite end point compared with 33 controls (HR=0.48 95% Cl=0.26, 0.87). Reduction in cardiovascular events was not associated with an increase in any cancer (HR=0.92 95% CI=0.58, 1.45) or breast cancer (HR=0.58 95% Cl=0.27,1.27). After 16years, the reduction in the primary combined outcome was still present, and still no association with any cancer was observed. All these data suggest that HRT started early after menopause significantly reduces the risk of the combined end point of mortality, myocardial infarction or heart failure, while it did not increase the risk of breast cancer or strokes [9 ]. 

Oliveira GB, Avezum A, Roever L (2015) Cardiovascular disease burden evolving knowledge of risk factors in myocardial infarction and stroke through population-based research and perspectives in global prevention. Front Cardiovasc Med 2 32 Orso F, Fabbri G, Baldasseroni S, Maggioni AP (2014) Newest additions to heart failure treatment. Expert Opin Pharmacother 15 1849-1861... 

Nitroglycerin remains the dmg of choice for treatment of angina pectoris. It has also been found useful for the treatment of congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, such as Raynaud s disease, and mitral insufficiency, although the benefits of nitroglycerin in mitral insufficiency have been questioned. 

It is well accepted that hypertension is a multifactorial disease. Only about 10% of the hypertensive patients have secondary hypertension for which causes, ie, partial coarctation of the renal artery, pheochromacytoma, aldosteronism, hormonal imbalances, etc, are known. The hallmark of hypertension is an abnormally elevated total peripheral resistance. In most patients hypertension produces no serious symptoms particularly in the early phase of the disease. This is why hypertension is called a silent killer. However, prolonged suffering of high arterial blood pressure leads to end organ damage, causing stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart failure, etc. Adequate treatment of hypertension has been proven to decrease the incidence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortaUty and therefore prolong life (176—183). 

In stroke patients presenting to the ED, the first goal of treatment is immediate cardiac and respiratory stabilization. The systemic blood pressure is most often elevated in the setting of an acute stroke as the result of a catecholamine surge, and if the patient is hypotensive, the clinician should consider a concomitant cardiac process, such as myocardial infarction (MI), congestive heart failure (CHF), or pulmonary embolism (PE). 

FIGURE 3-1. Treatment algorithm for chronic heart failure. ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker EF, ejection fraction HF, heart failure LV, left ventricular Ml, myocardial infarction SOB shortness of breath. Table 3-5 describes staging of heart failure. 

High risk Has unstable or symptomatic angina, despite treatment Has poorly controlled hypertension Has severe congestive heart failure (NYHA Class III or IV) Had a recent myocardial infarction or stroke within the past 2 weeks Has moderate or severe valvular heart disease Phosphodiesterase inhibitor is contraindicated... 

The goals of treatment are to lower total and LDL cholesterol in order to reduce the risk of first or recurrent events such as myocardial infarction, angina, heart failure, ischemic stroke, or other forms of peripheral arterial disease such as carotid stenosis or abdominal aortic aneurysm. 

Ivabradine is used in the treatment of angina in patients in normal sinus rhythm. It acts on the sinus node resulting in a reduction of the heart rate. It is contraindicated in severe bradycardia (heart rate lower than 60 beats/ minute), cardiogenic shock, acute myocardial infarction, moderate-to-severe heart failure, immediately after a cerebrovascular accident, second and third-degree heart block and patients with unstable angina or a pacemaker. Side-effects include bradycardia, first-degree heart block, ventricular extrasystoles, headache, dizziness and visual disturbances, including blurred vision. 

Myocardial ischemia and infarction cause abnorma myocardial metabolism, decreased left ventricular (LV) systolic function, diastolic dysfunction, congestive heart failure, and decreased survival. Consequently, revascularization techniques, either surgical or catheter based, have become integral to treatment of severe ischemic heart disease. 

Blockers are used as therapeutics in the treatment of hypertension, myocardial ischaemia (angina pectoris), tachyarrhythmias, and in the secondary prevention following myocardial infarction. More recently the cautious use of /3-blockers has been found to be of potential benefit in the treatment of congestive heart failure (NYHA stages II and III). 

ACE-inhibitors are known to cause regression of left ventricular and vascular hypertrophy. This phenomenon is important in the long-term treatment of hypertension, where cardiac hypertrophy is known to be an important, virtually independent risk factor. Data that are beginning to emerge, which indicate that ACE-inhibitors may be beneficial as secondary prevention in postinfarct patients, especially if signs of heart failure occur. This favourable influence of the ACE-inhibitors may be the result of haemodynamic effects, a favourable effect on neuroendocrine mechanisms, and also a beneficial influence on the process of remodeling of the heart, secondary to a myocardial infarction. 

Low-dose diuretics and /3-blockers, which have demonstrated positive effects on mortality, are indicated as first choice treatment. This is still maintained in the new recommendations for patients with uncomplicated hypertension (Table 5). However, other treatments are recommended for hypertensive patients with associated diseases (Table 6). Hypertension with diabetes or renal dysfunction must be treated with an ACE inhibitor in the first instance. Patients with myocardial infarction should be treated with /S-blockers and in specific cases with an ACE inhibitors. For patients with heart failure, the treatment of choice is an ACE inhibitor and diuretics. For older patients with isolated SBP, low-dose diuretics are recommended as the first step treatment and some of the CCB with long acting profile can be considered an alternative treatment. 

Cardiovascular safety. Both drug types promote salt retention, can exacerbate heart failure and tend to raise blood pressure. COX-2 selective drugs also appear to raise the risks of thrombotic events, notably stroke and myocardial infarction, and recent evidence suggests that non-selective NSAIDs also raise these risks, though it is unclear whether to the same degree. For both drug types, dose and duration of treatment appear to affect risk. 

Dopamine is used in the treatment of shock owing to inadequate cardiac output (cardiogenic shock), which may be due to myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure. It is also used in the treatment of septic shock, since renal circulation is frequently compromised in this condition. An advantage of using dopamine in the treatment of shock is that its inotropic action increases cardiac output while dilating renal blood vessels and thereby increasing renal blood flow. 

Captopril, as well as other ACE inhibitors, is indicated in the treatment of hypertension, congestive heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction after a myocardial infarction, and diabetic nephropathy. In the treatment of essential hypertension, captopril is considered first-choice therapy, either alone or in combination with a thiazide diuretic. Decreases in blood pressure are primarily attributed to decreased total peripheral resistance or afterload. An advantage of combining captopril therapy with a conventional thiazide diuretic is that the thiazide-induced hypokalemia is minimized in the presence of ACE inhibition, since there is a marked decrease in angiotensin Il-induced aldosterone release. 

Sodium nitroprusside is used in the management of hypertensive crisis. Although it is effective in every form of hypertension because of its relatively favorable effect on cardiac performance, sodium nitroprusside has special importance in the treatment of severe hypertension with acute myocardial infarction or left ventricular failure. Because the drug reduces preload (by venodila-tion) and after load (by arteriolar dilation), it improves ventricular performance and in fact is sometimes used in patients with refractory heart failure, even in the absence of hypertension. 

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