Fortuna Philip, Reis Inês, Ascenção Raquel, Carneiro António Vaz
Centro de Estudos de Medicina Baseada na Evidência, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Rev Port Cardiol. 2008 Jul-Aug;27(7-8):977-89.
Diuretics (particularly loop diuretics) are usually considered the first-line treatment for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The aldosterone antagonists, spironolactone and eplerenone, which are not unanimously classified as diuretics, have recently been included in therapy for CHF. Diuretics are the only drugs able to reduce fluid retention in CHF, although they are unable to maintain clinical stability for long periods of time when used in isolation. This article reviews the most valid and recent evidence available, based exclusively on large randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews and meta-analyses selected from secondary sources, on the use of diuretics in CHF with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
