The pathophysiology of AHF —New insights from recent studies of novel diuretics and vascular modulating therapies

Treatment of chronic congestive heart failure (HF) has improved substantially during the past decades, with the introduction of modulators of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and aldosterone antagonists and the introduction of the lifesaving beta-blockers as well as device therapy. Despite the dramatic improvement in the treatment of chronic HF, no such progress was achieved in the treatment of acute heart failure (AHF). Diuretics that were never rigorously examined in well controlled large prospective randomized studies remain the cornerstone and almost exclusively the only intravenous therapeutic option for AHF and no further effective therapy as introduced in more than 30 years. As a result, the short term morbidity and most importantly mortality of AHF remains extremely high with up to 20% of patients dying in the first months after admission for AHF and an additional 20% being readmitted to the hospital. In the current manuscript we will address the practical concerns regarding established and novel diuretic and vascular modulating therapies in patients with AHF, examine their recommended use and seek to determine a path to developing better and more effective therapies for AHF.