Acetazolamide or Metolazone in Acute Heart Failure

Summary

Impact of Acute Heart Failure: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 26 million people suffer from Heart Failure (HF), with a mortality rate of up to 50% within five years of diagnosis. Acute Heart Failure (AHF) exacerbations, leading to hospitalization, are common and represent the primary cause of hospital admissions in those over 65. Effective decongestion during hospitalization is crucial, as failure to achieve it doubles the risk of rehospitalization and mortality, incurring significant healthcare costs. Use of Diuretics in Acute Heart Failure: Diuretics, particularly loop diuretics like furosemide, are a cornerstone in managing AHF by inducing natriuresis and achieving decongestion. Clinical experience supports their use, though limited clinical trials exist. Pharmacological concepts guide their administration, emphasizing intravenous delivery in high doses and adjusting subsequent doses based on decongestive efficacy. Additionally, sequential tubular blockade with other diuretics like metolazone and acetazolamide is explored to enhance decongestion. Use of Metolazone and Acetazolamide: Sequential tubular blockade, using metolazone and acetazolamide in conjunction with furosemide, aims to achieve rapid and effective decongestion. While metolazone targets the distal tubule, inhibiting sodium-chloride channels, acetazolamide affects proximal tubular function. Studies like ADVOR (acetazolamide) and CLOROTIC (thiazide-like diuretic) demonstrate the potential benefits of combining these diuretics for quicker decongestion but with potential risks (in the case of Hydrochlorothiazide). Outcomes Measured by Major Studies: Recent studies assessing decongestion in AHF reveal a lack of uniformity in outcome selection. The primary focus should be on reducing rehospitalizations and post-discharge mortality by achieving effective decongestion. The ADVOR study, using a simple congestion score based on clinical and imaging criteria, underscores the importance of reaching a congestion score of 0 or 1 promptly. Congestion Monitoring: Monitoring diuretic treatment solely based on clinical aspects may not capture subclinical congestion, necessitating biochemical and imaging parameters. The ACME-AHF trial proposes a diagnostic score integrating clinical and imaging aspects to evaluate congestion status. Secondary outcomes include cumulative diuresis, weight loss, diuretic efficiency, and natriuresis, with a focus on natriuresis as a reliable physiological parameter for decongestion. Aim of the study: The ACME-AHF trial is designed to compare the efficacy and safety of two diuretic combination strategies: acetazolamide with furosemide and metolazone with furosemide. The primary objective is to relieve congestion, assessed using a congestion score, within the first three days of treatment during an hospitalization for acute heart failure.

Timeline

Start

2024-05-01

Primary completion

2027-03-01

Completion

2027-05-01

Publications

• Background Rivas-Lasarte M, Maestro A, Fernandez-Martinez J, Lopez-Lopez L, Sole-Gonzalez E, Vives-Borras M, Montero S, Mesado N, Pirla MJ, Mirabet S, Fluvia P, Brossa V, Sionis A, Roig E, Cinca J, Alvarez-Garcia J. Prevalence and prognostic impact of subclinical pulmonary congestion at discharge in patients with acute heart failure. ESC Heart Fail. 2020 Oct;7(5):2621-2628. doi: 10.1002/ehf2.12842. Epub 2020 Jul 7.
• Background Urbich M, Globe G, Pantiri K, Heisen M, Bennison C, Wirtz HS, Di Tanna GL. A Systematic Review of Medical Costs Associated with Heart Failure in the USA (2014-2020). Pharmacoeconomics. 2020 Nov;38(11):1219-1236. doi: 10.1007/s40273-020-00952-0.
• Background Felker GM, Ellison DH, Mullens W, Cox ZL, Testani JM. Diuretic Therapy for Patients With Heart Failure: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Mar 17;75(10):1178-1195. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.12.059.
• Background Felker GM, Lee KL, Bull DA, Redfield MM, Stevenson LW, Goldsmith SR, LeWinter MM, Deswal A, Rouleau JL, Ofili EO, Anstrom KJ, Hernandez AF, McNulty SE, Velazquez EJ, Kfoury AG, Chen HH, Givertz MM, Semigran MJ, Bart BA, Mascette AM, Braunwald E, O'Connor CM; NHLBI Heart Failure Clinical Research Network. Diuretic strategies in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. N Engl J Med. 2011 Mar 3;364(9):797-805. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1005419.
• Background Mullens W, Dauw J, Martens P, Verbrugge FH, Nijst P, Meekers E, Tartaglia K, Chenot F, Moubayed S, Dierckx R, Blouard P, Troisfontaines P, Derthoo D, Smolders W, Bruckers L, Droogne W, Ter Maaten JM, Damman K, Lassus J, Mebazaa A, Filippatos G, Ruschitzka F, Dupont M; ADVOR Study Group. Acetazolamide in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure with Volume Overload. N Engl J Med. 2022 Sep 29;387(13):1185-1195. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2203094. Epub 2022 Aug 27.
• Background Trullas JC, Morales-Rull JL, Casado J, Carrera-Izquierdo M, Sanchez-Marteles M, Conde-Martel A, Davila-Ramos MF, Llacer P, Salamanca-Bautista P, Perez-Silvestre J, Plasin MA, Cerqueiro JM, Gil P, Formiga F, Manzano L; CLOROTIC trial investigators. Combining loop with thiazide diuretics for decompensated heart failure: the CLOROTIC trial. Eur Heart J. 2023 Feb 1;44(5):411-421. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac689.
• Background Appiani F. [Monitoring decongestion in acute heart failure]. Rev Med Chil. 2022 Apr;150(4):493-504. doi: 10.4067/S0034-98872022000400493. Spanish.

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