Can we administer Acetazolamide in patients with heart failure? A systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a variety of symptoms and signs due to structural and/or functional abnormalities of the heart leading to decreased heart rate, cardiac output and/or increased intracardiac pressures. Studies suggest that acetazolamide could improve the efficacy of ASA diuretics, which could lead to improved natriuresis and diuresis. Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of acetazolamide in improving congestion symptoms in patients with Heart Failure. Methods: A systematic review will be carried out, following the PRISMA methodology, which will include a search in Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science databases without time restriction. Results: 5 studies were included, of which 4 were clinical trials. Conclusions: After comprehensive and detailed analysis of the included studies, we found limited evidence suggesting that the use of acetazolamide may be effective in the treatment of heart failure, especially as additional or complementary therapy to other treatments. However, it is important to keep in mind that the results of the pilot studies are limited and that more research is required to fully evaluate the efficacy and safety of acetazolamide in the treatment of heart failure. The use of acetazolamide in patients with heart failure may be controversial and requires careful evaluation of clinical risks and benefits before it is considered as a treatment.