Use of angiotensin receptor – neprilysin inhibitors in heart failure: a paradigm shift

  • Mohamed Omar EM Irhuma University of Witwatersrand
  • M Vally University of Witwatersrand
Keywords: ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, ARBs, enalapril, heart failure, HFrEF management, neprilysin inhibitors, sacubitril, valsartan

Abstract

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome responsible for at least one-third of hospitalisations amongst cardiac patients, with escalating mortality and healthcare costs on both public and private health care. Both prevalence and incidence of heart failure increase steeply with advancing age, making it a growing public health problem. Pathophysiologically, heart failure clinically presents in two common forms: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction The cornerstone of heart failure management includes the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors A recently developed pharmacotherapy that inhibits both the angiotensin receptor and the enzyme neprilysin has shown promise in the management of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction This article will highlight the impact of this new therapy and its potential use in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Author Biographies

Mohamed Omar EM Irhuma, University of Witwatersrand
MBBCH, Postgrad Cert. Health Informatics (Leeds), FCCP (CMSA) Lecturer and Clinical Pharmacologist Division of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology School of Therapeutic Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences University of Witwatersrand
M Vally, University of Witwatersrand
BPharm (Wits) M.P.S., SA cert. In Asthma Care (NAEP) Lecturer Division of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology School of Therapeutic Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences University of Witwatersrand
Published
2016-09-29
Section
Review Articles