Anti-Aldosterone Therapy in Congestive Heart Failure

Apart from the well-defined renal effects, recent studies have shown direct effects of aldosterone on cardiovascular system. These studies have shown that besides renal receptors, there are also aldosterone receptors in the heart, great vessels and brain. Stimulation of tehese receptors in mice may cause myocardial fibrosis and vasocontriction while antialdosterone therapy can inhibit these untoward effects. Such therapy probably can also reduce the total mortality in patients with congestive heart failure. More importantly, aldosterone antagonists display these beneficial effects both on high and low blood pressure levels. These observations imply that anti-aldosterone therapy is effective through multiple mechanisms in congestive heart failure.