Contemporary Decongestive Strategies in Acute Heart Failure

Abstract

Congestion is the primary driver of hospital admissions in patients with heart failure and the key determinant of their outcome. Although intravenous loop diuretics remain the predominant agents used in the setting of acute heart failure, the therapeutic response is known to be variable, with a significant subset of patients discharged from the hospital with residual hypervolemia. In this context, urinary sodium excretion has gained attention both as a marker of response to loop diuretics and as a marker of prognosis that may be a useful clinical tool to guide therapy. Several decongestive strategies have been explored to improve diuretic responsiveness and removal of excess fluid. Sequential nephron blockade through combination diuretic therapy is one of the most used methods to enhance natriuresis and counter diuretic resistance. In this article, I provide an overview of the contemporary decongestive approaches and discuss the clinical data on the use of add-on diuretic therapy. I also discuss mechanical removal of excess fluid through extracorporeal ultrafiltration with a brief review of the results of landmark studies. Finally, I provide a short overview of the strategies that are currently under investigation and may prove helpful in this setting.