Use of Ramipril and Carvedilol Combination Therapy in Heart Failure
Assignment:
Treatment
of
Heart
Failure:
The severity of HF is determined by The New York
Carvedilol and Ramipril
Heart Association classification (NYHA), which is
Keywords: Heart failure, beta-blockers, carvedilol,
summarized in the table 15.
angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, ramipril.
INTRODUCTION
Heart failure (HF) is the disease of the elderly. Over
70% of the patients are older than 65 years. The risk of having the condition rises with age. HF can be defined as a clinical syndrome. The ability of the heart to pump blood is impaired and it can no longer meet the body’s metabolic requirements
Table 1. New York Heart Association Classification of Heart
Failure. Remme WJ, Swedberg K. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic heart failure. European Heart Journal.
[Online] 2001; 22(17): 1527-1560.
during the rest or exercise1. By treating HF we try to relieve patients symptoms, improve their quality of life, prevent hospitalization and most importantly prolong their life. The treatment includes improved diet (reduced salt intake), physical activity and pharmacological treatment. There are numerous classes of drugs on the market such as digitalis, angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), vasodilators, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
(Ramipril) and beta-blockers (Carvedilol). We will have a look at the last two classes. They have been
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
The previous hemodynamic model was not adequate and
was
therefore
replaced
by
neurohormonal model, which involves Reninangiotensin-aldosterone-system sympathetic nervous
system1,
(RAAS)
3
.
RAAS
and is summarized in Figure 1. The activation of RAAS leads to vasoconstriction, oedema and myocardial fibrosis, which are induced by Angiotensin II1.
proven to be very efficient in HF by numerous clinical studies2-4.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
HF involves many symptoms such as dyspnoea
(rest or exercise), paroxystic nocturnal dyspnoea, fatigue, and ankle oedema.1 The signs of HF
Treatment
of
Heart
Failure:
The severity of HF is determined by The New York
Carvedilol and Ramipril
Heart Association classification (NYHA), which is
Keywords: Heart failure, beta-blockers, carvedilol,
summarized in the table 15.
angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, ramipril.
INTRODUCTION
Heart failure (HF) is the disease of the elderly. Over
70% of the patients are older than 65 years. The risk of having the condition rises with age. HF can be defined as a clinical syndrome. The ability of the heart to pump blood is impaired and it can no longer meet the body’s metabolic requirements
Table 1. New York Heart Association Classification of Heart
Failure. Remme WJ, Swedberg K. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic heart failure. European Heart Journal.
[Online] 2001; 22(17): 1527-1560.
during the rest or exercise1. By treating HF we try to relieve patients symptoms, improve their quality of life, prevent hospitalization and most importantly prolong their life. The treatment includes improved diet (reduced salt intake), physical activity and pharmacological treatment. There are numerous classes of drugs on the market such as digitalis, angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), vasodilators, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
(Ramipril) and beta-blockers (Carvedilol). We will have a look at the last two classes. They have been
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
The previous hemodynamic model was not adequate and
was
therefore
replaced
by
neurohormonal model, which involves Reninangiotensin-aldosterone-system sympathetic nervous
system1,
(RAAS)
3
.
RAAS
and is summarized in Figure 1. The activation of RAAS leads to vasoconstriction, oedema and myocardial fibrosis, which are induced by Angiotensin II1.
proven to be very efficient in HF by numerous clinical studies2-4.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
HF involves many symptoms such as dyspnoea
(rest or exercise), paroxystic nocturnal dyspnoea, fatigue, and ankle oedema.1 The signs of HF