[New cardiovascular drugs: expanded therapeutic possibilities in coronary heart disease and in heart failure].

Important novel developments in the pharmacotherapy of cardiovascular diseases are briefly summarized. New results with lipid lowering statins in secondary prevention of atherosclerosis are mentionned. Atorvastatin, introduced recently, is compared to the other statins. The extended possibilities for inhibition of platelet-aggregation in coronary disease and after interventional coronary therapy with ticlopidine, clopidogrel and specific antagonists of platelet integrin IIb/IIIa receptors (abciximab, tirofibrane) as well as fibrinolysis with reteplase are covered. Among modern trends in pharmacotherapy of heart failure studies with angiotensin-II-receptor inhibition (losartane and related compounds) or betablockers (carvedilol) are worth mentioning.