Newer drug therapy for congestive heart failure.

Background: The management of congestive heart failure has undergone a number of modifications over the past 5 to 10 years.

Methods: These include assaying the role of inotropic drugs, evaluating the role of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, considering the role of intermittent inotropic infusion in ambulatory patients, and recognizing the importance of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Very recently, the important role of angiotensin II receptor blocking agents and the use of beta blockade have provided additional modalities for the control of congestive heart failure. The relative usefulness of such therapy has been reviewed in this article.

Conclusion: The management of congestive heart failure has undergone considerable change with the use of newer and more effective drugs.