G. Riecker - Böcker

More than 10 years have passed since the memorable symposium on "Myocardial Contractility," edited by R. D. Tanz, F. Kavaler and J. Roberts (New York and London, Academic Press, 1967). PathogeneSis of myocardial failure still involves many questions. The latest scien­ tific findings on fundamentals of myocardial contraction encouraged us to organize this international symposium held in Rottach-Egern at Tegernsee (Germany), June 17 to 19, 1976 sponsored by the European Society of Cardio~ogy. It seemed appropriate to assemble prominent workers in this field in an attempt to correlate their respective in­ formation on cardiac function. In this connection it must be remembered that our present understand­ ing of the cardiovascular system and today's therapeutic and preventive measures are the fruits of yesterday's research. Further progress in this field will be conditioned by various circumstances: to win highly motivated creative people for clinical research, to mediate time and contacts for their learning new methods, and to provide adequate faci­ lities for scientific work in our hospitals. Therefore, the aim of the conference was to discuss those aspects of myocardial failure, that are believed to require further studies in the future by integrated efforts of research workers in several disciplines, especially to promote the pertinent exchange of ideas between basic and clinical research.

Throughout the past decades, the understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic heart failure and the therapeutic approach to this condition have un­ dergone considerable change. New developments are reported every year. Perhaps it is because of this continuing interest of researchers and physi­ th cians that the chapter on chronic heart failure of the 4 edition of Klinische Kardiologie has been so positively received. Several colleagues asked the authors to publish the chapter on chronic heart failure separately, because it would be more practical to use in daily work. When the request for an En­ glish version of this chapter reached the authors and Springer-Verlag, we were happy, on the one hand, because of the interest, but did wonder whether it would be wise to translate a typically German textbook into Eng­ lish. We invite you to send us your critical comments. Although Guidelines for the Treatment of Heart Failure have been pub­ lished recently by the WHO, by the European Society of Cardiology, and by the American Heart Association Task Force clinicians, practitioners, and stu­ dents still seem to need , a comprehensive view with emphasis on pathophys­ iology, epidemiology and therapy. The authors are grateful to Springer-Verlag for the good co-operation and tremendous personal commitment in making the English edition of Chronic Heart Failure possible. We hope to give our readers a good overview on this important clinical syndrome, one which re­ quires intelligent clinical research and sound clinical practice as weIl.