Abstract

LINARES CASAS, Juan Carlos. Perspectivas históricas y contemporáneas de los diuréticos y su rol en la insuficiencia cardíaca: A 50 años de la aparición de la furosemida Parte 2. Los diuréticos, hoyHistorical and contemporary perspectives of diuretics and their role in heart failure: At 50 years of the onset of furosemide Part 2. Diuretics today. Insuf. card. [online]. 2015, vol.10, n.3, pp.132-140. ISSN 1852-3862.

Diuretics are one of the mainstays of heart failure treatment. The correct use of these agents requires adequate knowledge of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, their interactions and possible causes of ineffectiveness, and their potential adverse effects. To avoid them, must be observed some basic rules that include the use of lower doses they get maintain the patient free of congestion, the periodic check of renal function and serum electrolytes, and the indispensable using association between these drugs and inhibitors of the enzyme conversion, beta blockers and aldosterone antagonists. Although at present there is insufficient evidence on the impact that diuretics may have on the survival of patients with heart failure, as the information is sometimes contradictory, the truth is that these drugs are the most effective in relieving congestive symptoms, so hard we might today ignore them. Anyway, they should not be left aside the studies that seek to bring light on this point.

Keywords : Diuretics; Heart failure; Congestion; Side effects.