TERAPÊUTICA DA INSUFICIÊNCIA CARDÍACA REVISITADA – PASSADO, PRESENTE E FUTURO

• Autor(a) principal: Graça, Nuno A. G.
• Data de Publicação: 2012
• Outros Autores: Soares, Maria Augusta
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.25756/rpf.v4i4.182

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome with high prevalence and incidence in the world. HF’s prevalence has risen over time due to the increased life expectancy and possibly due to HF’s therapeutic evolution since the seventies.Objectives: To review HF’s therapy, to see where we stand and make a preview of the new therapies being researched.Methods: A research was conducted for review articles, clinical trials and meta-analysis on databases such as PubMed Central and ISI Web of Knowledge. Reference textbooks were also researched. The relevant information was selected for this review.Results: An evolution of concepts in the therapy and pathophysiology of HF was observed. Previously, HF was considered a hemodynamic syndrome, hence the use of diuretics, inotropes and vasodilators. However, the weak effectiveness of such therapies in long term practice boosted the research of other therapies based on the existence of a neurohormonal response which overlaps the patient’s hemodynamic status, and works as a vicious cycle that must be stopped. Drugs that block this response are the standard of therapeutics today, allowing the control of the pathology and reducing mortality.Conclusions: We don’t have an ideal therapy yet as the morbidity and mortality remain high. As such, a number of drugs and new therapies are being researched, including gene and cell therapy, fueling hope for a cure without cardiac transplant. Tailoring therapies through pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics is also starting to develop, representing an investment that might increase therapeutics’ effectiveness.