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A reappraisal of loop diuretic choice in heart failure patients.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Buggey, J; Mentz, RJ; Pitt, B; Eisenstein, EL; Anstrom, KJ; Velazquez, EJ; O'Connor, CM
Published in: Am Heart J
March 2015

The health and economic burden of heart failure is significant and continues to grow each year. Loop diuretics are an integral part of symptom management in heart failure. Furosemide is used disproportionately compared with other loop diuretics, and there is currently no guidance for physicians regarding which agent to choose. However, there exist pharmacologic differences as well as other mechanistic differences that appear to favor torsemide use over furosemide. Compared with furosemide, torsemide improves surrogate markers of heart failure severity such as left ventricular function, plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels, and New York Heart Association functional class and may also reduce hospitalizations, readmissions, and mortality. Data suggest that these benefits could be mediated through torsemide's ability to positively affect the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Specifically, torsemide has been shown to inhibit aldosterone secretion, synthesis, and receptor binding in vitro, as well as decrease transcardiac extraction of aldosterone, myocardial collagen production, and cardiac fibrosis in patients with heart failure. We identified pertinent literature using keyword MEDLINE searches and cross-referencing prior bibliographies. We summarize the available data suggesting potential benefits with torsemide over furosemide, and call attention to the need for a reappraisal of diuretic use in heart failure patients and also for a well-powered, randomized control trial assessing torsemide versus furosemide use.

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Published In

Am Heart J

DOI

EISSN

1097-6744

Publication Date

March 2015

Volume

169

Issue

3

Start / End Page

323 / 333

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left
  • Up-Regulation
  • Torsemide
  • Sulfonamides
  • Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors
  • Renin-Angiotensin System
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Myocardium
  • Humans
  • Heart Failure
 

Citation

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Buggey, J., Mentz, R. J., Pitt, B., Eisenstein, E. L., Anstrom, K. J., Velazquez, E. J., & O’Connor, C. M. (2015). A reappraisal of loop diuretic choice in heart failure patients. Am Heart J, 169(3), 323–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2014.12.009
Buggey, Jonathan, Robert J. Mentz, Bertram Pitt, Eric L. Eisenstein, Kevin J. Anstrom, Eric J. Velazquez, and Christopher M. O’Connor. “A reappraisal of loop diuretic choice in heart failure patients.Am Heart J 169, no. 3 (March 2015): 323–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2014.12.009.
Buggey J, Mentz RJ, Pitt B, Eisenstein EL, Anstrom KJ, Velazquez EJ, et al. A reappraisal of loop diuretic choice in heart failure patients. Am Heart J. 2015 Mar;169(3):323–33.
Buggey, Jonathan, et al. “A reappraisal of loop diuretic choice in heart failure patients.Am Heart J, vol. 169, no. 3, Mar. 2015, pp. 323–33. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ahj.2014.12.009.
Buggey J, Mentz RJ, Pitt B, Eisenstein EL, Anstrom KJ, Velazquez EJ, O’Connor CM. A reappraisal of loop diuretic choice in heart failure patients. Am Heart J. 2015 Mar;169(3):323–333.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am Heart J

DOI

EISSN

1097-6744

Publication Date

March 2015

Volume

169

Issue

3

Start / End Page

323 / 333

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left
  • Up-Regulation
  • Torsemide
  • Sulfonamides
  • Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors
  • Renin-Angiotensin System
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Myocardium
  • Humans
  • Heart Failure