New oral drugs for the treatment of congestive heart failure]

The crucial issues in the management of congestive heart failure (CHF) are improvement of depressed myocardial contractility and reduction of excessive load. For this purpose, positive inotropic agents and vasodilators have been developed as new oral drugs. The former include Denopamine which possesses beta 1 stimulating effect, Xamoterol which is a unique agent acting as a beta 1-partial agonist, and Ibopamine, Docarpamine and Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors which possess both inotropic and vasodilating effects and are called "Inodilators". The latter include Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors. In addition, new vasodilators, such as, Vasopressin Antagonist have also been developed. However, careful long-term clinical trials are required with regard to the efficacy and adverse effects before these agents are widely used with safety in the management of CHF.