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JAMA. 2001;286:1569.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

The FDA has approved nesiritide (Natrecor; Scios Inc, Sunnyvale, Calif) for initial intravenous treatment of patients with acutely decompensated congestive heart failure (ADCHF). The drug is a sterile, purified preparation containing the human B-type natriuretic peptide.

Nesiritide has been studied in 10 trials of patients with CHF, including the randomized Vasodilation in the Management of Acute Congestive Heart Failure (VMAC) trial, which enrolled 489 patients requiring hospitalization for management of ADCHF with shortness of breath at rest.

The VMAC trial compared the short-term hemodynamic, clinical, and safety effects of nesiritide, placebo, and intravenous nitroglycerin when added to background therapy previously used for the treatment of ADCHF. Primary end points were the change from baseline in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and changes in patient's dyspnea evaluation, measured at 3 hours, in patients who had undergone pulmonary artery catheter replacement.

In the VMAC trial, nesiritide was administered as a 2-µg/kg bolus . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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