The Effect of Acute Digitalization on the Hemodynamic Response to Exercise in Coronary Artery Disease

Hemodynamic observations are made at rest and during exercise before and following the administration of 0.5 mg of ouabain in patients with coronary artery disease and in normal subjects. Patients with coronary artery disease and exertional angina showed evidence of reversible cardiac failure during exercise. The patients with coronary artery disease who did not have angina and the normal subjects had normal hemodynamic responses to exercise. Acute digitalization did not prevent angina in any of the symptomatic patients, although there was hemodynamic evidence of improved ventricular performance. In the patients with coronary disease without angina minor hemodynamic changes at rest and during exercise were suggestive of improved left ventricular function.