Heart failure drug linked to higher risk of death

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A drug that helps heart failure patients survive a crisis may also increase mortality in the short term.
Acute heart failure can be treated with an intravenous drug called nesiritide. However, a new study from doctors in New York and the University of Michigan suggests that the drug is not without risk.

They have already shown that nesiritide is linked to kidney dysfunction. Now an analysis of clinical trials shows that those on the drug have a higher death rate in the month following hospital discharge compared with those on more conventional treatment for heart failure. The researchers believe this means the drug might be riskier than was previously believed. Further research is needed to assess the role of nesiritide, versus other drugs, like diuretics, in treating patients with heart failure.

Source
Journal of the American Medical Association 20th April 2005