Which medication is used to treat systolic heart failure by increasing levels of natriuretic peptides?

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Prepare for the PAEA Emergency Medicine EOR Exam with comprehensive flashcards and multiple choice questions. Discover hints and explanations for each query. Ace your exam!

Sacubitril-valsartan is the correct choice for treating systolic heart failure, particularly because it works by increasing levels of natriuretic peptides. This medication combines an angiotensin receptor blocker (valsartan) with a neprilysin inhibitor (sacubitril). Neprilysin is an enzyme that breaks down natriuretic peptides, which are substances that promote vasodilation, diuresis, and natriuresis while reducing sympathetic tone. By inhibiting neprilysin, sacubitril increases the levels of these beneficial peptides, leading to improved heart function and reduced symptoms of heart failure.

The other medications listed serve different purposes or mechanisms in the management of heart failure. Lisinopril, for example, is an ACE inhibitor that primarily lowers blood pressure and reduces afterload, but it does not directly increase natriuretic peptide levels. Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside that improves contractility and manages symptoms of heart failure but does not impact natriuretic peptides. Furosemide is a loop diuretic used to manage fluid overload in heart failure rather than targeting natriuretic peptide levels. Thus, sacubitril-valsartan is uniquely effective in enhancing nat

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