Why the study?
What are the clinical indications for digitalis glycosides in heart failure?
What are the clinical indications for digitalis glycosides in heart failure?
Digitalis glycosides remain indicated for congestive heart failure to improve myocardial contractility and reduce filling pressures, though they lack benefit in mitral stenosis.
May support cardiac glycosides in symptomatic heart failure but not mitral stenosis; leaves open need for contemporary randomized data.
Clinical UseIndicationsBroadly speaking, these have changed little since Withering's astute observations were published in 1785. Congestive heart failure. Cardiac glycosides are of potential value in most patients with symptoms and signs of congestive heart failure due to ischemic, valvular, hypertensive and congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies and cor pulmonale. Improvement in depressed myocardial contractility will tend to increase cardiac output, promote diuresis, and reduce the filling pressure of the failing left or right ventricle (or both), with consequent reduction of pulmonary vascular congestion and central venous pressure. Digitalis is of no demonstrable benefit, however, in mitral stenosis with . . .
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Thomas W. Smith (1973) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: