[Long-term therapy of congestive heart failure and dilatative cardiomyopathy].

Although therapy of congestive heart failure has to remain symptomatic in many cases, diagnostic evaluation should always precede initiation of therapy. Goals are (1) improvement of contractility (digitalis; other positive inotropic substances are in evaluation) and (2) decrease of preload and afterload by diuretics and vasodilators. Those therapeutic principles are briefly discussed. Symptomatic therapy certainly improves quality of life, but it remains unclear whether survival is improved as well.