Do diuretics and aldosterone receptor antagonists improve ventricular remodeling?

There is no evidence that loop diuretics improve ventricular remodeling in patients with heart failure. Aldosterone receptor antagonists, which have an effect on natriuresis and diuresis, especially in conjunction with an angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitor, have been shown to improve ventricular remodeling in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The mechanisms for this beneficial effect and a reduction in death due to progressive heart failure seen in the randomized aldosterone evaluation study (RALES) is likely related to the effect of aldosterone receptor antagonism on myocardial collagen formation and ventricular hypertrophy. Further proof of this hypothesis should be forthcoming from the results of the Eplerenone Heart Failure Efficacy and Survival Study (EPHESUS) early in 2003 in which the aldosterone receptor antagonist eplerenone is being evaluated in patients with systolic left ventricular dysfunction post myocardial infarction.