Hartfalen door geneesmiddelen

- Although heart failure is predominantly caused by cardiovascular disorders, several classes of drugs may induce heart failure in patients with pre-existing normal left ventricular function or may precipitate the occurrence of heart failure in patients with left ventricular impairment.

- These drugs are predominantly those belonging to the categories of cytostatics, anti-arrhythmics, beta-blockers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, calcium channel blockers and anaesthetics.

- Drug-induced heart failure should be regarded as a potentially preventable cause of heart failure, although sometimes therapeutic alternatives are scarce (e.g. anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy).

- Awareness of the possibility of adverse effects on cardiac performance by several classes of drugs, particularly in patients with pre-existing ventricular impairment, may contribute to prevention or timely diagnosis and treatment of drug-induced heart failure.