Key result
Digitalis provides a small but definite hemodynamic or clinical improvement in patients with congestive heart failure, though its use is limited by central nervous system-mediated toxicity.
Why the study?
Does digitalis provide clinical or hemodynamic improvement in patients with congestive heart failure in sinus rhythm?
Does digitalis provide clinical or hemodynamic improvement in patients with congestive heart failure in sinus rhythm?
Digitalis offers modest hemodynamic and clinical benefits in heart failure patients in sinus rhythm, though its therapeutic window is constrained by CNS-mediated toxicity.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports modest digitalis benefit in sinus-rhythm HF; leaves open its net value versus modern therapies given CNS toxicity.
Digitalis is a drug widely used in modern medicine for the control of ventricular response in atrial fibrillation and the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF). Recently, the use of digitalis for the treatment of CHF in patients in sinus rhythm has become quite controversial. The findings of several clinical studies suggest a small but definite hemodynamic or clinical improvement in patients treated with digitalis. These effects are limited by the onset of toxicity, which is at least partially mediated via the central nervous system. If the inotropic effect of the drug could be separated from the central nervous system effect, much higher doses of digitalis could be tolerated and presumably a greater therapeutic effect could be obtained.
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Levitt et al. (1985) conducted a review in Congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Digitalis was evaluated. Digitalis provides a small but definite hemodynamic or clinical improvement in patients with congestive heart failure, though its use is limited by central nervous system-mediated toxicity.
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