Congestive heart failure ACE inhibitors

Congestive Heart Failure Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology Systolic Dysfunction Diastolic Dysfunction HFpEF HFrEF
Causes
Differentiating Congestive heart failure from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
Clinical Assessment
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Electrocardiogram
Chest X Ray
Cardiac MRI
Echocardiography
Exercise Stress Test
Myocardial Viability Studies
Cardiac Catheterization
Other Imaging Studies
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring
Medical Therapy:
Summary
Acute Pharmacotherapy
Chronic Pharmacotherapy in HFpEF
Chronic Pharmacotherapy in HFrEF Diuretics ACE Inhibitors Angiotensin receptor blockers Aldosterone Antagonists Beta Blockers Ca Channel Blockers Nitrates Hydralazine Positive Inotropics Anticoagulants Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor Antiarrhythmic Drugs Nutritional Supplements Hormonal Therapies Drugs to Avoid Drug Interactions Treatment of underlying causes Associated conditions
Exercise Training
Surgical Therapy: Biventricular Pacing or Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) Implantation of Intracardiac Defibrillator Ultrafiltration Cardiac Surgery Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) Cardiac Transplantation
ACC/AHA Guideline Recommendations Initial and Serial Evaluation of the HF Patient Hospitalized Patient Patients With a Prior MI Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention Surgical/Percutaneous/Transcather Interventional Treatments of HF Patients at high risk for developing heart failure (Stage A) Patients with cardiac structural abnormalities or remodeling who have not developed heart failure symptoms (Stage B) Patients with current or prior symptoms of heart failure (Stage C) Patients with refractory end-stage heart failure (Stage D) Coordinating Care for Patients With Chronic HF Quality Metrics/Performance Measures
Implementation of Practice Guidelines
Congestive heart failure end-of-life considerations
Specific Groups: Special Populations Patients who have concomitant disorders Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Patient with CHF NSTEMI with Heart Failure and Cardiogenic Shock
Congestive heart failure ACE inhibitors On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Congestive heart failure ACE inhibitors
CDC on Congestive heart failure ACE inhibitors
Congestive heart failure ACE inhibitors in the news
Blogs on Congestive heart failure ACE inhibitors
Directions to Hospitals Treating Congestive heart failure ACE inhibitors
Risk calculators and risk factors for Congestive heart failure ACE inhibitors

Editor(s)-In-Chief: James Chang, M.D., Cardiovascular Division Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston MA, Harvard Medical School [1] and C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2], Cardiovascular Division Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston MA, Harvard Medical School

Indications for an ACE Inhibitor or ARB

1. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is ≤ 40%

or

2. There is a prior history of myocardial infarction (MI)

Background

• ACE-I or ARB therapy is recommended for ANY patient with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (≤ 40%) regardless of the etiology of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ischemic or nonischemic) or presence/absence of symptoms. Patients with or without heart failure (in other words, even those with asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction) are included in this recommendation.
• In addition, ACE-I/ARB therapy is indicated for patients with history of myocardial infarction whether or not left ventricular systolic dysfunction or heart failure is present.
• ACE-I or ARB therapy is also recommended for patients who are at high risk for the development of heart failure due to the presence of coronary, cerebrovascular, or peripheral vascular disease.
• Treatment should not be deferred in patients with few or no symptoms because of the significant mortality benefit derived from ACEI therapy.

Dosing

• ACE-I/ARB therapy should be initiated at low dosage such as 12.5 mg tid of captopril, 2.5 mg bid of enalapril, or 2.5 mg daily lisinopril.
• Every 4 to 6 weeks the dose is gradually uptitrated, as tolerated, toward target dosages of 20-40 mg daily for lisinopril, 10-20 mg twice daily for enalapril maleate, and 50-100 mg three times a day for captopril, or to the maximum tolerated dosage.
• ACE inhibitors are rarely adequate for the treatment of congestion without the use of diuretics.

Complications of ACE Inhibitors

• 5-10 % patients cannot tolerate ACE inhibitors because of cough. Cough can be a sign of elevated left-sided filling pressures or a side effect of ACE inhibitors due to excess bradykinin.
• ARBs are reserved for patients who are intolerant of ACE-Is for reasons (such as persistent cough) OTHER than hyperkalemia, progression of chronic kidney disease/worsening azotemia, or hypotension caused by prior ACE-I therapy. If a patient experiences hyperkalemia, worsening azotemia, or hypotension as a result of ACE-I therapy, the same is likely to result from ARB therapy. In the CHARM study candesartan reduced both hospitalization and mortality.
• Renal artery stenosis should be considered if there's a decline in renal function with the initiation of ACE inhibitors.

Aldosterone Antagonists

Indications

A patient should be on an aldosterone antagonist if:

1. The potassium (K) is ≤ 5.0 mmol/liter and 2. The creatinine (Cr) is ≤ 2.5 mg/dl and 3. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is ≤ 35%

OR

1. The potassium (K) is ≤ 5.0 mmol/liter and 2. The creatinine (Cr) is ≤ 2.5 mg/dl and 3. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF is ≤ 40% and 4. There is a history of prior myocardial infarction (MI)

Background

Aldosterone antagonist therapy is recommended for patients with advanced heart failure (NYHA class III or IV) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF ≤ 35%), who are already receiving optimal medical therapy including loop diuretics, beta blockers and ACE-I/ARBs. In patients with diabetes mellitus or prior myocardial infarction, the LVEF below which this recommendation applies is 40%. However, patients with baseline renal insufficiency (creatinine > 2.5 mg/dl or creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min), hyperkalemia (K > 5.0 mmol/liter), or who are unlikely to be available for frequent monitoring of renal function and electrolytes should NOT receive an aldosterone antagonist. Other potassium-sparing diuretics (such as triamterene) should not be administered concomitantly with an aldosterone antagonist.

In addition, the EMPHASIS-HF trial showed that eplerenone at a dose of 25-50mg daily reduced mortality and HF hospitalizations in patients with NYHA class I or II HF and should now be considered in these patients. This is not yet an AHA guideline but should be considered in this group of patients based on the available evidence.

• Spironolactone is third line therapy for CHF
• An important side effect of spironolactone is hyperkalemia

References

Template:WikiDoc Sources