A 68-year-old male with a history of chronic heart failure p…
A 68-year-old male with a history of chronic heart failure presents to the clinic with worsening shortness of breath and peripheral edema. On examination, his blood pressure is 140/85 mmHg, and he has bilateral pitting edema up to the knees. His heart rate is 88 beats per minute, and lung auscultation reveals crackles at the bases. Laboratory tests show elevated Btype natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial pharmacologic treatment for this patient’s fluid retention?