[Prognosis of heart failure--value of drug therapy].

During the last decade medical treatment of congestive heart failure has made impressive strides. Several studies have proven that ACE-inhibitors improve symptoms and decrease mortality in patients with severe heart failure. ACE-inhibitors have also been demonstrated to improve prognosis in patients with mild to moderate symptoms of heart failure as well as left ventricular dysfunction. However, long-term medical treatment of severe heart failure is only palliative. Despite treatment with high doses of ACE-inhibitors, 1-year mortality of patients with severe heart failure is as high as 36%. Therefore, at present, cardiac transplantation remains the only alternative treatment for patients with end-stage congestive heart failure.