Heart failure: state-of-the-art treatment and new therapeutic options.

Heart failure is one of the most common health problems in Western countries. Untreated, the prognosis is very poor and there is no curative therapeutic approach yet. The gold standard for final stage congestive heart failure (CHF) is still heart transplantation. In recent years the medical therapy of heart failure has improved significantly. But still, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics are not offered to every patient with chronic heart failure. Currently, new therapeutic approaches are being evaluated: immunoadsorption and biventricular pacing. This article summarizes the latest recommendations for medical therapy of heart failure and will explain the mechanisms and clinical results of these new therapeutic options.