Effects of Tezosentan on Symptoms and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Acute Heart Failure.

This article presents the results of a study to determine if tezosentan improves patient outcomes after acute heart failure. The principal symptom of acute heart failure is dyspnea which is thought to be caused by an increase in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), a decrease in stroke volume and an increase in vascular resistance. Patients are routinely treated with plasma concentrations of the vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin-1. Amounts given are increased in patients with heart failure and associated with poor outcomes. The study concluded that tezosentan did not improve symptoms or outcome in patients with acute heart failure.