title: Comparative effects of nadolol-digoxin combination therapy and digoxin monotherapy for chronic atrial fibrillation.
abstract: In some patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, treatment with digitalis alone may fail to produce a satisfactory decrease in heart rate at rest or during exercise or emotional stress. Findings of a few clinical studies suggest that beta blockade in combination with digitalis therapy may be of benefit in these patients. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, 8-week study of 32 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, the effects of digoxin therapy alone were compared with a combination of digoxin and nadolol. Criteria for entry into the study included ventricular rate at rest greater than or equal to 80/min or greater than or equal to 120/min with exercise, and serum digoxin levels within the therapeutic range. After digoxin dose titration to produce therapeutic levels, digoxin dosage remained constant throughout the balance of the study. After a 2-week, single-blind placebo lead-in period, patients were randomized to receive either digoxin plus placebo or a combination of digoxin and nadolol. The dose of nadolol/placebo was titrated from 20 to 120 mg daily as tolerated. Twenty-four hour ambulatory electrocardiographic (Holter) recordings, symptom-limited exercise treadmill tests and serum digoxin and nadolol levels were obtained at the end of the single and double-blind treatment periods. Comparing endpoint with baseline, results from Holter recordings showed that patients treated with a combination of digoxin and nadolol had significant (p less than 0.001) decreases in 24 hour average (78 +/- 4 to 63 +/- 3).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Zoble
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brewington
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Olukotun
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009248:Nadolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D009248:Nadolol; D004077:Digoxin