['heart failure']
['placebo', 'furosemide']

        The ReBIC-1 study will enroll HF outpatients that fulfill the following criteria:

          1. age equal or greater than 18 year-old;

          2. New York Heart Association functional class I or II;

          3. Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ≤ 45% by transthoracic two-dimensional
             echocardiography performed within 3 months before the screening visit;

          4. no previous HF related hospitalization or visit to emergency room within 6 months
             before the screening visit;

          5. treatment with a stable dose of furosemide (40 or 80 mg per day) for at least 6 months
             before the screening visit;

          6. plasma potassium < 5 mg/dl within 3 months before the screening visit;

          7. optimal HF treatment with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or
             angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) and beta-blockers, unless contraindicated or not
             tolerated.

        The ReBIC-1 study will exclude HF outpatients that fulfill the following criteria:

          1. a clinical congestion score (CCS) > 5 points;

          2. prior acute coronary syndrome, stroke or myocardial revascularization within 3 months
             before the screening visit;

          3. any severe valve heart disease (aortic, mitral or tricuspid);

          4. severe pulmonary disease (asthma, emphysema or fibrosis);

          5. severe hepatic failure or cirrhosis;

          6. end-stage acute or chronic renal disease (on hemodialysis);

          7. malignancy on active treatment;

          8. congenital heart disease;

          9. participation on any other interventional clinical research;

         10. inability to understand and sign informed consent.
      