Almanac 2013: heart failure

Effects of serelaxin on the outcome of patients with or without substantial peripheral edema: A subgroup analysis from the RELAX-AHF trial

“…Patients in the latter group develop symptoms and signs of pulmonary congestion without overt evidence of fluid retention. This suggests fluid redistribution into the lungs as the underlying pathophysiological mechanism requiring immediate medical intervention with vasodilator rather than diuretic agents (9)(10)(11). A minority of patients with AHF are also admitted with clear signs and symptoms of hypo-perfusion and low cardiac output (cardiogenic shock), representing a subgroup of patients with AHF with an ominous prognosis (7,8).…”