Nesiritide Has No Role for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure in the ED

An 8-hour infusion of nesiritide in conjunction with standard therapy was no more effective than standard therapy alone.

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a common emergency department presentation that results in nearly 1 million hospital admissions per year. Nesiritide, a drug that is structurally similar to naturally occurring B-type natriuretic peptide, initially was thought to increase diuresis and decrease morbidity and length of stay in patients with ADHF. But appropriately, nesiritide has fallen out of favor because it is expensive, has been linked to increased rates of renal failure, and has been shown to have no advantages over conventional therapy.

In a manufacturer-funded, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, investigators evaluated the effect of adding an 8-hour nesiritide infusion (2 μg/kg bolus followed by 0…

Reviewing Author

Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose