Acutely decompensated systolic heart failure: effects of frequent doses of furosemide vs a single dose plus carvedilol on clinical status, neurohormonal activation and ventricular arrhythmias.

Beta blockers are contraindicated in patients with acutely decompensated heart failure. Current therapeutic strategies increase morbidity and mortality. We have compared the effects of frequent doses of diuretics vs a single dose of diuretics and cautious uptitration of carvedilol. Our results indicate that, although clinical compensation is achieved with both strategies; the effects on neurohormonal activation and ventricular arrhythmias are opposite.