[Heart failure]

Abstract

This article discusses the most important developments in heart failure reported during the last year. It contains a review of new findings on chronic heart failure, acute heart failure, cardiac resynchronization therapy, heart transplantation, with particular emphasis on the situation in Spain, and surgery in heart failure. In addition, the article describes progress in the treatment of anemia, vasopressin receptor antagonists, non-invasive ventilation, inotropic therapy, and resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation, and examines the current role of echocardiography in detecting asynchrony and in selecting patients.