Beginning a Randomized Evaluation of the AGE Breaker Alagebrium in Diastolic Heart Failure (BREAK-DHF-I)

Inclusion Criteria: * diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension requiring therapy * EF \>/= 45% via echo within 1 year and evidence of diastolic heart failure via echo measurement of E/E'\>/= 12 determined by echo within 1 year * previous hospitalization for heart failure or previous BNP \>100 pg/mL. Exclusion Criteria: * Clinically significant valvular disease * history of stroke/TIA or reversible ischemic neurological defect w/i 6 mths * history of acute MI within 6 months * severe COPD * active or treated malignancies (except basal cell carcinoma) * significant systemic illnesses that would prohibit completion of the study or compliance