Comparison of effects on left ventricular filling pressure of intravenous nesiritide and high-dose nitroglycerin in patients with decompensated heart failure.

The results of this study showed an advantage of nesiritide compared with high-dose nitroglycerin in the treatment of patients with decompensated heart failure. Nesiritide resulted in an early decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (< or =15 minutes), which was sustained throughout the study period (24 hours) without the need for up-titration. In contrast, the onset of the nitroglycerin-mediated hemodynamic effect was delayed, and despite aggressive up-titration, the decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was gradually attenuated because of the early development of tolerance.