Clinical outcome studies of the treatment of congestive heart failure have been published during the past 2 years which substantiate the use of one old drug, digoxin, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The positive inotropic drugs such as the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, milrinone, and the beta; agonist, xamoterol, and pure vasodilators have proved ineffective if not dangerous. However, three new drugs have been tested with preliminary beneficial results: the vasodilator and inotropic drug, flosequinan; the phosphodiesterase inhibitor and calcium channel sensitizer, pimobendan; and the positive inotrope and cytokine inhibitor, vesnarinone. Further long-term studies are necessary before these drugs become established modes of therapy.
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