Emerging Concepts in Acute Heart Failure: From the Pathophysiology to the Clinical Case Based Approach

Acute heart failure (AHF) represents a heterogeneous clinical syndrome, comprising new or worsening signs and symptoms on a background of stable chronic heart failure (HF), as well as new-onset HF. In either clinical picture, urgent care is crucial. Given the variety of clinical scenario, stratifying patient subgroups on a pathophysiologic base can help direct appropriate therapy. This manuscript recapitulates the current indication, with the aim to define a rational basis for a patient-oriented approach to treatment of AHF