Sodium NItroPrusside Treatment in Acute Heart Failure

The primary objective of this multicentric observational retrospective study is to assess the efficacy and safety of SNP as part of the treatment regimen of AHF patients and to identify predictors of efficacy. The primary efficacy endpoint is brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) reduction (at least 25% from baseline levels) 48 hours after initiation of SNP infusion. AHF presentation (de novo or ADHF), systolic blood pression at presentation, left ventricle ejection fraction and dimension, entity of mitral regurgitation and central venous pressure will be evaluated in order to identify predictors of efficacy of SNP (in terms of primary endpoint).