[Losartan in therapy of chronic heart failure].

To evaluate effectiveness of nonpeptide angiotensin-2 subtype-1 receptor antagonist losartan in therapy of symptomatic congestive heart failure in patients with ischemic heart disease, 116 patients were examined at the age of 36-62 (mean age 50.6 +/- 4.22). They had angina pectoris of functional class II-III (according to CCS) and congestive heart failure of functional class II-III (according to NYHA). All the patients were randomized into two groups. 60 patients of group 1 received basic medication with nitrates, diuretic (on demand), digoxin and aspirin. 56 patients of group 2 received basic medication and losartan (cozaar, MSD, USA) in the dose 25 mg/day for 48 weeks. Echocardiographic monitoring of the treatment efficacy was made. The outcomes of the treatment evidence that losartan improves the patients' clinical status and heart failure functional class. For twelve weeks losartan reduced left ventricular and atrial dilation positively influencing the isometric inotropic indices. In 48 weeks losartan arrested progression of pathologic remodelling of the left ventricle and prevents depression of total myocardial contractility. Losartan's positive effect in restriction of negative evolution of cardiac failure manifests on the treatment week 3.