chapter 1 Heart failure due to diastolic dysfunction: Definition, diagnosis and treatment / chapter 2 Brain natriuretic peptide: A blood test for the diagnosis of heart failure and monitoring of its treatment? -- Theresa A McDonagh -- chapter 3 Metabolic comorbid conditions in chronic heart failure: Diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia / chapter 4 Atrial fibrillation and heart failure: Aetiological, prognostic and therapeutic considerations / chapter 5 -blockers: Mandatory for everyone with heart failure? / chapter 6 Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers in heart failure and high risk myocardial infarction -- Marc A Pfeffer and John JV McMurray -- chapter 7 The role of mineralocorticoid receptor blocking agents in patients with heart failure and cardiovascular disease / chapter 8 Omapatrilat: The potential of vasopeptidase inhibition / chapter 9 Inotropes and other new therapies for acute heart failure / chapter 10 Endothelin receptor antagonists: Will they join the therapeutic armamentarium? / chapter 11 Anti-tumour necrosis factor-therapy in chronic heart failure – what went wrong? / chapter 12 Nurse intervention: Can our patients do without it? / chapter 13 Innovative surgery for heart failure: A new era? / chapter 14 The era of devices? Biventricular pacing and implantable cardioverter–defibrilators