This continuing feature will update readers on recent developments in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy. Cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer in the US, and more clinical outcome trials have been conducted in cardiology than in any other field of medicine. Given this rapidly expanding knowledge base, pharmacists can have a significant impact on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease—if they keep current with developments in drug therapy.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Heart Association. 2001 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update.Dallas, TX: American Heart Association; 2000.
2.
MillsR.M., YoungJ.B.Practical Approaches to the Treatment of Heart Failure.Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1998: 2–17.
3.
PianoM.R., BondmassM., SchwertzD.W.The molecular and cellular pathophysiology of heart failure.Heart Lung.1998; 27: 3–19.
4.
MartineauP., GouletJ.New concepts in the realm of renin-antiotensin axis inhibition: The angiotensin II receptor antagonists in congestive heart failure.Ann Pharmacother.2001; 35: 71–84.
5.
HuntS.A., BakerD.W., ChinM.H.ACC/AHA guidelines for the evaluation and management of chronic heart failure in the adult: Executive summary: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee to Revise the 1995 Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Heart Failure).J Am Coll Cardiol.2001; 38: 2101–13. Full text available online at: American College of Cardiology Web site. http://www.acc.org/clinical/guidelines/failure/hf_index.htm.
6.
EichhornE.J., BristowM.R.Medical therapy can improve the biological properties of the chronically failing heart.Circulation.1996; 94: 2285–96.
7.
FerrariR., CeconiC., CurelloS.Activation of the neuroendocrine response in heart failure: Adaptive or maladaptive process?Cardiovasc Drugs Ther.1996; 10: 623–9.
8.
CarsonP.E.Rationale for the use of combination angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker therapy in heart failure.Am Heart J.2000; 140: 361–6.
9.
SongJ.C., WhiteC.M.Pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic and theapeutic differences among angiotensin II receptor antagonists.Pharmacotherapy.2000; 20: 130–9.
10.
JamaliA.H., TangW.H., KhotU.N.The role of angiotensin receptor blockers in the management of chronic heart failure.Arch Intern Med.2001; 161: 667–72.
SteinbergJ.S.Angiotensin II receptor antagonists: mechanisms and therapeutic utility.Hosp Pharm.1998; 33: 53–65.
13.
McConnaugheyM.M., McConnaugh-eyJ.S., IngenitoA.J.Practical considerations of the pharmacology of angiotensin receptor blockers.J Clin Pharmacol.1999; 39: 547–59.
14.
HowardP.A., DunnM.I.Is your patient's cough caused by an ACE inhibitor?J Respir Dis.1997; 18: 762–8.
15.
The Losartan Cough Study Group.ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II antagonists and cough.J Hum Hypertens.1995; 9(suppl 5): S51–4.
16.
WarnerK.K., ViscontiJ.A., TschampelM.M.Angiotensin II receptor blockers in patients with ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema.Ann Pharmacother.2000; 34: 526–8.
17.
AldermanC.P.Adverse effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.Ann Pharmacother.1996; 30: 55–61.
18.
DinaR., JafariM.Angiotensin II-receptor antagonists. An overview.Am J Health Syst Pharm.2000; 57: 1231–41.
19.
BurnhamT.H., ShortR.M., eds. Drug Facts and Comparisons.56th ed.St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons;2002.
20.
CrozierI., IkramH., AwanN.Losartan in heart failure. Hemodynamic effects and tolerability.Circulation.1995; 91: 691–7.
21.
HavranekE.P., ThomasI., SmithW.B.Dose-related beneficial long-term hemodynamic and clinical efficacy of irbesartan in heart failure.J Am Coll Cardiol.1999; 33: 1174–81.
22.
MazayevV.P., FominaI.G., KazakovE.N.Valsartan in heart failure patients previously untreated with an ACE inhibitor.Int J Cardiol.1998; 65: 239–46.
23.
PittB., SegalR., Martinezon behalf of ELITE Study Investigators. Randomized trial of losartan versus captopril in patients over 65 with heart failure. (Evaluation of Losartan in the Elderly Study, ELITE).Lancet.1997; 349: 747–52.
24.
PittB., Poole-WilsonP.A., SegalR.on behalf of the ELITE Investigators. Effect of losartan compared with captopril on mortality in patients with symptomatic heart failure: Randomised trial—the Losartan Heart Failure Survival Study ELITE II.Lancet.2000; 355: 1582–7.
25.
McKelvieR.S., YusufS., PericakD.Comparison of candesartan, enalapril, and their combination in congestive heart failure. Randomized Evaluation of Strategies for Left Ventricular Dysfunction (RESOLVD) pilot study.Circulation.1999; 100: 1056–64.
26.
CohnJ.N., TognoniG., GlazerR.D.Rationale and design of the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial: a large multinational trial to assess the effects of valsartan, an angiotensin-receptor blocker, on morbidity and mortality in chronic congestive heart failure.J Card Fail.1999; 5: 155–60.
27.
SwedbergK., PfefferM., GrangerC.Candesartan in heart failure-assessmentof reduction in mortality and morbidity (CHARM): rationale and design.J Card Fail.1999; 5: 276–82.
28.
CohnJ.N., TognoniG., for the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial Investigators. A randomized trial of the angiotensin-receptor blocker valsartan in chronic heart failure.N Engl J Med.2001; 345: 1667–75.
29.
PfefferM.A., McMurrayJ., LeizoroviczA.Valsartan in acute myocardial infarction trial (VALIANT): rationale and design.Am Heart J.2000; 140: 727–50.
30.
DicksteinK., KjekshusJ.Comparison of baseline data, initial course and management: Losartan versus captopril following acute myocardial infarction (The OPTIMAAL Trial). OPTIMAAL Trial Steering Committee and Investigators. Optimal Trial in Myocardial Infarction with the Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan.Am J Cardiol.2001; 87: 766–71.
31.
JongP., DemersC., McKelvieAngiotensin receptor blockers in heart failure: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Am Coll Cardiol.2002; 39: 463–7.
