Clinical Medicine Reviews in Vascular Health

Loop diuretics are currently recommended by scientific societies and associations of cardiology for treatment of symptoms of heart failure. Furosemide, which belongs to this pharmacological group, is the most commonly used in this disease. Torasemide prolonged-release is an equally effective alternative to furosemide for that purpose, although it is thought that, in patients with heart failure, torasemide has cardiac benefits beyond its diuretic effects. This is due to the ability of torasemide to inhibit the enzyme involved in the myocardial extracellular generation of collagen type I molecules (also known as procollagen type I carboxy—terminal proteinase (PCP)), so this drug could reverse myocardial fibrosis and reduce collagen type I synthesis in patients with CHF. Furthermore, torasemide is a very safe drug, as this molecule has mild and transient side effects.