title: Is there a role for digoxin in patients with systolic dysfunction?
abstract: In early placebo-controlled trials in patients with heart failure who were in sinus rhythm, digoxin improved hemodynamics, signs and symptoms of heart failure, and exercise capacity, and decreased functional deterioration and the need for pharmacologic cointervention. A more recent trial showed that withdrawing digoxin from patients who were clinically stable while receiving diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors often resulted in clinical deterioration, whereas continuing the agent maintained stability. Which patients should initially be treated with digoxin remains to be determined. The effects of digoxin on mortality in patients who are receiving ACE inhibitors must also be established.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacy Practice, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy 27599-7360, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D004077:Digoxin