Congestive heart failure aldosterone antagonists

Editor(s)-In-Chief: James Chang, M.D., Cardiovascular Division Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston MA, Harvard Medical School [mailto:jchang@caregroup.org] and C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [mailto:mgibson@perfuse.org], Cardiovascular Division Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston MA, Harvard Medical School;

Indications for Aldosterone Antagonists
A patient should be on an aldosterone antagonist if:

1. The potassium (K) is ≤ 5.0 mmol/liter

and

2. The creatinine (Cr) is ≤ 2.5 mg/dl

and

3. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is ≤ 35%

OR

1. The potassium (K) is ≤ 5.0 mmol/liter

and

2. The creatinine (Cr) is ≤ 2.5 mg/dl

and

3. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF is ≤ 40%

and

4. There is a history of prior myocardial infarction (MI)

Background

 * Aldosterone antagonists are, as the name suggests, receptor antagonists at the mineralocorticoid receptor. Antagonism of these receptors inhibits sodium resorption in the collecting duct of the nephron in the kidneys. This interferes with sodium/potassium exchange, reducing urinary potassium excretion and weakly increasing water excretion (diuresis).


 * Members of this class in clinical use include: Spironolactone ; Eplerenone - more specific than spironolactone on target, but also more expensive; and Canrenone (canrenoate potassium)
 * Aldosterone antagonist therapy is recommended for patients with advanced heart failure (NYHA class III or IV) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF ≤ 35%), who are already receiving optimal medical therapy including loop diuretics, beta blockers and ACE-I/ARBs.
 * In patients with diabetes mellitus or prior myocardial infarction, the LVEF below which this recommendation applies is 40%.
 * In addition, the EMPHASIS-HF trial showed that eplerenone at a dose of 25-50mg daily reduced mortality and HF hospitalizations in patients with NYHA class I or II HF and should now be considered in these patients. This is not yet an AHA guideline but should be considered in this group of patients based on the available evidence.

Contraindications

 * However, patients with baseline renal insufficiency (creatinine > 2.5 mg/dl or creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min), hyperkalemia (K > 5.0 mmol/liter), or who are unlikely to be available for frequent monitoring of renal function and electrolytes should NOT receive an aldosterone antagonist. Other potassium-sparing diuretics (such as triamterene) should not be administered concomitantly with an aldosterone antagonist.

==ACC/AHA Guidelines- Aldosterone Antagonist Recommendation == {{cquote|

Class I
1. Addition of an aldosterone antagonist is recommended in selected patients with moderately severe to severe symptoms of heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) who can be carefully monitored for preserved renal function and normal potassium concentration. Creatinine should be 2.5 mg per dL or less in men or 2.0 mg per dL or less in women and potassium should be less than 5.0 mEq per liter. Under circumstances where monitoring for hyperkalemia or renal dysfunction is not anticipated to be feasible, the risks may outweigh the beneﬁts of aldosterone antagonists. (Level of Evidence: B)

Class III
1. Routine combined use of an ACE inhibitor, ARB, and aldosterone antagonist is not recommended for patients with current or prior symptoms of heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). (Level of Evidence: C)}}

Vote on and Suggest Revisions to the Current Guidelines

 * The CHF Living Guidelines: Vote on current recommendations and suggest revisions to the guidelines

Guidelines Resources

 * The ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult


 * 2009 focused update: ACCF/AHA Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure in Adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines: developed in collaboration with the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation