New Drug Targets and Therapeutic Approaches in Heart Failure

Abstract

The 2016 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acut and chronic heart failure defines heart failure as a „clinical syndrome characterized by typical symptoms (e.g. breathlessness, ankle swelling and fatigue) that may be accompanied by signs (e.g. elevated jugular venous pressure, pulmonary crackles and peripheral oedema) caused by a structural and/or functional cardiac abnormality, resulting in a reduced cardiac output and/or elevated intracardiac pressures at rest or during stress.” Heart failure (HF) is often, but not always, resulted from a myocardial dysfunction, caused by myocardial ischemia, myocarditis or primer myocardial diseases. Before clinical symptoms become apparent, it is important to recognize the causes and precipitating factors of HF and start treating them to prevent poor outcomes.