[Inhibition of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in heart failure, or from CONSENSUS to PARADIGM-HF].

An historical survey is presented of mortality trials on angiotensin-aldosteron system inhibition in patients with chronic heart failure. From the CONSENSUS trial up to the PARADIGM-HF trial, ACE inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor antagonists (AT1-blockers, ARBs, sartans), along with mineralocorticoid receptor blockers, have been the gold standard of treatment. Both direct renin blocker aliskiren and dual blocker enalapril + neprilysin proved ineffective; on the other hand, the new dual inhibitor valsartan + neprilysin LCZ 696 is a new and promising therapeutic agent for future treatment of chronic heart failure.