Resumen

DAVILA SPINETTI, Diego F; DONIS H, Jose H; GONZALEZ, Maite  y  SANCHEZ, Francisco. Fisiopatología, diagnóstico y tratamiento médico de la insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva. Rev. Venez. Endocrinol. Metab. [online]. 2010, vol.8, n.3, pp.88-98. ISSN 1690-3110.

Congestive heart failure is a progressive syndrome characterized by abnormalities of cardiac structure and function, limitation of exercise capacity, neurohormonal activation and salt and water retention. Cardiac systolic or diastolic function may be predominantly impaired. Concerning systolic heart failure, the mechanisms responsible for cardiac remodeling and neurohormonal activation are not related to a specific etiology. Although, pharmacological treatment improves quality of life and survival, mortality is still high.