Short-Term Effects of Tolvaptan in Patients With Acute Heart Failure and Volume Overload.

Background: In patients with acute heart failure (AHF), dyspnea relief is the most immediate goal. Renal dysfunction, diuretic resistance, and hyponatremia represent treatment impediments.

Objectives: It was hypothesized that the addition of tolvaptan to a background diuretic improved dyspnea early in patients selected for an enhanced vasopressin antagonism response.

Acute hemodynamic effects of tolvaptan, a vasopressin V2 receptor blocker, in patients with symptomatic heart failure and systolic dysfunction: an international, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the acute hemodynamic effect of vasopressin V(2) receptor antagonism.

Background: In decompensated heart failure (HF), tolvaptan, a vasopressin V(2) receptor antagonist, has been shown to improve congestion. It has not yet been established whether these improvements may be associated with the hemodynamic effects of tolvaptan.

Efficacy and safety of the vasopressin V1A/V2-receptor antagonist conivaptan in acute decompensated heart failure: a dose-ranging pilot study.

Background: Hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) involves substantial morbidity and mortality. Current management strategies have major limitations, and there has been little progress in the development of newer therapies. Arginine vasopressin-receptor antagonists may have promise in the treatment of ADHF in view of their ability to facilitate diuresis.

Intravenous nesiritide, a natriuretic peptide, in the treatment of decompensated congestive heart failure. Nesiritide Study Group.

Background: Intravenous infusion of nesiritide, a brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide, has beneficial hemodynamic effects in patients with decompensated congestive heart failure. We investigated the clinical use of nesiritide in such patients.

Methods: Patients hospitalized because of symptomatic congestive heart failure were enrolled in either an efficacy trial or a comparative trial.

Preservation of endogenous antioxidant activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation as common mechanisms of antiatherosclerotic effects of vitamin E, lovastatin and amlodipine.

Objectives: We sought to document the common mechanisms of the antiatherogenic effects of the cholesterol-lowering hydroxy-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor lovastatin, the dihydropyridine Ca2+ blocker amlodipine and the antioxidant vitamin E.

Background: Vitamin E, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and Ca2+ blockers each inhibit atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic animals.

Methods: New Zealand White rabbits were fed regular chow (Group A), chow with 1% cholesterol (Group B), 1% cholesterol diet plus lovastatin (Group C), 1% cholesterol diet plus vitamin E (Group D) or 1% cholesterol diet plus amlodipine (Group E) for 12 weeks.