Vol 16, No 2 (2021)
Review paper
Published online: 2021-04-16
Role of loop diuretics in the treatment of acute heart failure
DOI: 10.5603/FC.2021.0012
Folia Cardiologica 2021;16(2):104-111.
Abstract
Loop diuretics are used as first-line medications in patients with heart failure as they result in symptomatic improvement
related to relieving organ congestion. The recommendations regarding the use of loop diuretics are mostly based on
expert opinion, without preference of specific drugs. Thus, the choice of optimal diuretic treatment strategy in acute
heart failure requires knowledge about differences in the characteristics of loop diuretics available in Poland, furosemide
and torasemide. Non-renal pleiotropic effects of torasemide should be also borne in mind. Clinically significant
differences in the pharmacokinetics and biological effects of furosemide and torasemide have been reflected in multiple
research studies and meta-analyses published in the recent several years. These studies provided consistent evidence
for the good safety profile of torasemide, and its superior efficacy in regard to the improvement of exercise tolerance and reduced readmissions due to heart failure compared to furosemide. The effect of torasemide on mortality reduction in patients with heart failure, seen in some studies, requires further evaluation.
Keywords: heart failureloop diureticstorasemidefurosemidechronic kidney disease
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