William Harvey Describes Circulation
William Harvey's publication "De Motu Cordis" described the circulation of blood, laying the foundation for understanding heart function and heart failure.
1628
1832
Digitalis for Heart Failure
William Withering's monograph on the use of digitalis marked the beginning of pharmacological treatment for heart failure.
1912
Frank-Starling Law
Otto Frank and Ernest Starling formulated the Frank-Starling law of the heart, explaining the relationship between stroke volume and end-diastolic volume, crucial for understanding heart failure mechanics.
1950
Diuretics for Heart Failure
The introduction of diuretics provided a significant advancement in the symptomatic treatment of heart failure by reducing fluid overload.
1967
First Heart Transplant
Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the first successful human heart transplant, offering a new treatment option for end-stage heart failure.
1979
ACE Inhibitors Development
The development of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors provided a new class of drugs that improved survival rates in heart failure patients.
1980
Introduction of Beta-Blockers
Beta-blockers were introduced as a standard treatment for heart failure, significantly improving patient outcomes.
1985
Discovery of BNP
The discovery of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) provided a biomarker for diagnosing and managing heart failure.
1991
First LVAD Implantation
The first left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation marked a milestone in mechanical support for heart failure patients.
1995
Consensus on Heart Failure Definition
The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association published a consensus document defining heart failure and its stages, standardizing diagnosis and treatment protocols.
2001
RALES Study
The RALES (Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study) demonstrated the benefits of aldosterone antagonists in reducing mortality in severe heart failure patients.
2005
CRT Therapy Approval
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) was approved for heart failure treatment, improving symptoms and survival in patients with dyssynchronous ventricular contraction.
2014
PARADIGM-HF Trial
The PARADIGM-HF trial showed that the drug combination sacubitril/valsartan was superior to enalapril in reducing heart failure hospitalizations and mortality.
2020
SGLT2 Inhibitors for Heart Failure
The DAPA-HF trial demonstrated that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors significantly reduced heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular death in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.
2023
Gene Therapy Advancements
Emerging research in gene therapy showed potential for treating heart failure by targeting specific genetic mutations and pathways involved in the disease.
