Aldosterone antagonists: a new treatment option for patients with post-myocardial infarction heart failure

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) in association with acute myocardial infarction is an emerging clinical problem. The benefits of aldosterone blockade have now been extended, with the selective aldosterone antagonist eplerenone demonstrating reduced mortality compared to placebo, in patients with post-myocardial infarction HF. The evidence supporting this agent will be briefly reviewed, followed by a discussion on the clinical implications of aldosterone antagonists in this clinical setting.