Conivaptan: a selective vasopressin antagonist for the treatment of heart failure

Abstract

Heart failure commonly manifests as a syndrome of salt and water retention. Arginine vasopressin plays an important role in volume homeostasis and may contribute to this syndrome seen in heart failure patients. Recently, a number of agents have been developed that antagonize the effects of vasopressin. Conivaptan, which is a dual antagonist of the V_1a and V₂ receptor, has shown promise in animal studies and in small scale human trials as a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of acute and chronic heart failure. Further large studies are being conducted, which may confirm the benefits of conivaptan and other vasopressin antagonists in heart failure patients.

Keywords::

• arginine vasopressin conivaptan
• heart failure
• vasopressin antagonists