HEART FAILURE
Trials
of InterestOngoing Trials of Interest
HEART
FAILURE
Trials
of Interest
Ongoing Trials of
Interest
Several large controlled trials are currently examining the long-term anti-ischemic and cardiovascular protective effects of ACE inhibitors; in patients at risk of cardiovascular event, HOPE (Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation); in patients with normal cardiac function, PEACE (Prevention of Events with ACE inhibition); in patients with coronary artery disease irrespective of cardiac function, EUROPA (EUropean trial of Reduction Of cardiac events with Perindopril in stable Artery disease).
BETA-BLOCKERS
BEST and COPERNICUS will study whether beta-blockers are
suitable therapy in patients with more severe heart failure (class
III-IV). BEST will study bucindolol in 2800 subjects while COPERNICUS
will examine carvedilol use in 1800 heart failure patients. The
Carvedilol or Metoprolol European Trial (COMET) is comparing the use
of carvedilol or metoprolol in heart failure patients and the effects
of the therapies on all-cause mortality.
ANGIOTENSIN II RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS
RAAS (Randomized Angiotensin Receptor Antagonist-ACE
Inhibitor Study) is studying the combination therapy of losartan and
enalapril vs. high-dose enalapril in heart failure patients. The
primary endpoint is adverse event incidence and changes in physical
exam or laboratory parameters. The secondary endpoint will consist of
an evaluation of changes in neurohormonal parameters. The results
will attempt to determine the benefits of combination ACE inhibitor
and Angiotensin II blocker therapy.
ELITE II and Val-HeFT are further examining the use of angiotensin II blockers in heart failure patients. ELITE II involves losartan; Val-HeFT is studying valsartan.
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