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Teerlink, J.R., Metra, M., Felker, G.M., Ponikowski, P., Voors, A.A., Weatherley, B.D., Marmor, A., Katz, A., Grzybowski, J., Unemori, E., Teichman, S.L. and Cotter, G. (2009) Relaxin for the treatment of patients with acute heart failure (Pre-RELAX-AHF): A multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-finding phase IIb study. Lancet, 373, 1429-1439. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60622-X

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: The pathophysiology of AHF—New insights from recent studies of novel diuretics and vascular modulating therapies

  AUTHORS: Gad Cotter, Olga Milo, Beth Davison

  KEYWORDS: Heart Failure; Treatment; Novel

  JOURNAL NAME: World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases, Vol.3 No.1A, March 27, 2013

  ABSTRACT: Treatment of chronic congestive heart failure (HF) has improved substantially during the past decades, with the introduction of modulators of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and aldosterone antagonists and the introduction of the lifesaving beta-blockers as well as device therapy. Despite the dramatic improvement in the treatment of chronic HF, no such progress was achieved in the treatment of acute heart failure (AHF). Diuretics that were never rigorously examined in well controlled large prospective randomized studies remain the cornerstone and almost exclusively the only intravenous therapeutic option for AHF and no further effective therapy as introduced in more than 30 years. As a result, the short term morbidity and most importantly mortality of AHF remains extremely high with up to 20% of patients dying in the first months after admission for AHF and an additional 20% being readmitted to the hospital. In the current manuscript we will address the practical concerns regarding established and novel diuretic and vascular modulating therapies in patients with AHF, examine their recommended use and seek to determine a path to developing better and more effective therapies for AHF.