Aquaresis Utility for Hyponatremic Acute Heart Failure Study

Hyponatremia is a common finding in acute heart failure (HF) patients and is associated with
worse prognosis. In addition to its prognostic value, hyponatremia may have importance during
the acute management of HF. We've recently shown that acute or chronic hyponatremia,
especially <130 mEq/L, was associated with higher loop diuretic dose requirements and more
frequent need for escalation of the diuretic regimen to achieve the same level of diuresis as
normonatremic HF patients. Aquaresis with tolvaptan represents a potentially advantageous
approach to the management of volume overload in HF, especially in patients presenting with
concomitant hyponatremia. The purpose of the current study is to prospectively evaluate the
comparative efficacy and safety of a tolvaptan-based diuretic regimen compared to
conventional diuresis with a furosemide-based regimen on short-term clinical and treatment
outcomes in hyponatremic acute HF patients.

This will be a prospective, open-label, parallel-group, randomized study comparing a
tolvaptan-based aquaretic regimen to a conventional continuous infusion loop diuretic-based
regimen of furosemide. Up to 55 (target sample size of 50) adult subjects admitted with acute
HF and signs of volume overload, and serum sodium less than 135 mEq/L will be randomized to
tolvaptan or furosemide treatment arms. The initial 24 hours of study treatment will compare
tolvaptan monotherapy to furosemide monotherapy. After the initial 24 hours, treatment
regimens may be altered to achieve desired clinical goals. Patients will be followed for up
to 96 hours and at discharge for study purposes.