Aldosterone blockade in heart failure

Aldosterone plays a key role in the pathophysiology of heart failure. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers may not suppress aldosterone production in the long term. This allows aldosterone to exert its effects on myocardial fibrosis and cardiac remodelling, e...

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Main Author: Allan D Struthers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publications 2004-03-01
Series:Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
Online Access:http://jra.sagepub.com/content/5/1_suppl/23.full.pdf
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author Allan D Struthers
author_facet Allan D Struthers
author_sort Allan D Struthers
collection DOAJ
description Aldosterone plays a key role in the pathophysiology of heart failure. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers may not suppress aldosterone production in the long term. This allows aldosterone to exert its effects on myocardial fibrosis and cardiac remodelling, endothelial function, electrolytes and baroreceptor response. The Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study (RALES) tested spironolactone against placebo in patients with severe heart failure. The study found a 30% reduction in the risk of death among patients treated with spironolactone and a 31% reduction in the risk of death from cardiac causes. Patients in the spironolactone group had significantly lower risks of death from progression of heart failure and sudden cardiac death. The Eplerenone Post-Acute Myocardial Infarction Heart Failure Efficacy and Survival Study (EPHESUS) investigated the effects of eplerenone against placebo in patients with myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular dysfunction. Compared to placebo, the relative risk of death from any cause was 0.85 in eplerenone-treated patients, and the relative risk of death or hospitalisation for cardiovascular events was 0.87. The reduction in the risk of sudden death from cardiac causes was statistically significant. In conclusion, aldosterone blockade should form part of optimal therapy for patients with heart failure.
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spelling doaj.art-20b4a855b9354fbe91f7a7c984b69ad32024-03-02T11:47:42ZengSAGE PublicationsJournal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System1470-32031752-89762004-03-0151_suppl232710.3317/JRAAS.2004.02110.3317_JRAAS.2004.021Aldosterone blockade in heart failureAllan D StruthersAldosterone plays a key role in the pathophysiology of heart failure. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers may not suppress aldosterone production in the long term. This allows aldosterone to exert its effects on myocardial fibrosis and cardiac remodelling, endothelial function, electrolytes and baroreceptor response. The Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study (RALES) tested spironolactone against placebo in patients with severe heart failure. The study found a 30% reduction in the risk of death among patients treated with spironolactone and a 31% reduction in the risk of death from cardiac causes. Patients in the spironolactone group had significantly lower risks of death from progression of heart failure and sudden cardiac death. The Eplerenone Post-Acute Myocardial Infarction Heart Failure Efficacy and Survival Study (EPHESUS) investigated the effects of eplerenone against placebo in patients with myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular dysfunction. Compared to placebo, the relative risk of death from any cause was 0.85 in eplerenone-treated patients, and the relative risk of death or hospitalisation for cardiovascular events was 0.87. The reduction in the risk of sudden death from cardiac causes was statistically significant. In conclusion, aldosterone blockade should form part of optimal therapy for patients with heart failure.http://jra.sagepub.com/content/5/1_suppl/23.full.pdf
spellingShingle Allan D Struthers
Aldosterone blockade in heart failure
Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
title Aldosterone blockade in heart failure
title_full Aldosterone blockade in heart failure
title_fullStr Aldosterone blockade in heart failure
title_full_unstemmed Aldosterone blockade in heart failure
title_short Aldosterone blockade in heart failure
title_sort aldosterone blockade in heart failure
url http://jra.sagepub.com/content/5/1_suppl/23.full.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT allandstruthers aldosteroneblockadeinheartfailure