omapatrilat and Death--Sudden--Cardiac

From 1989 to 1999, the incidence of cardiac failure appears stable but its prevalence has increased up to three folds. Obesity increases the risk of development of cardiac failure. In genetics, mutations in some proteins of muscular cells may lead to the occurrence of dilated cardiomyopathy. The interest of Brain Natriuretic Peptid was confirmed in case of acute dyspnea or diastolic dysfunction as well as its prognostic role in the functional capacity and the occurrence of sudden death. In the therapeutic field, a great disappointment came from the results of studies on omapatrilat. Despite its advantageous hemodynamic effects, this drug is not more efficacious than any ACE-inhibitor, but with much more side effects. New drugs (levosimendan, nesiritide) appear interesting in the acute heart failure. The short-term as well as long-term effects of cardiac resynchronization are confirmed. Implantable cardioverting defibrillators decrease the mortality of patients with a past history of myocardial infarction with severe left ventricle dysfunction. The artificial heart Jarvik 2000 appears to be hopeful for patients on waiting lists for heart transplantation.

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Defibrillators, Implantable; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Heart Failure; Hemodynamics; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Prognosis; Pyridines; Research; Risk Factors; Thiazepines; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left