title: Effects of digoxin on time domain measures of heart rate variability in patients with stable chronic cardiac failure: withdrawal and comparison group studies.
abstract: The effect on heart rate variability of adding digoxin to a diuretic and ACE inhibitor was studied in patients with chronic stable cardiac failure. Digoxin was found to increase heart rate variability, especially those measures of heart rate variability thought to represent parasympathetic activity. The withdrawal of digoxin led to a decrease in heart rate variability to pre-treatment levels. Whilst digoxin in standard doses does not alter prognosis in chronic cardiac failure, it does have potentially beneficial neurohumoral effects. If the increase in heart rate variability, which represents beneficial neurohumoral modulation, can be divorced from the potentially detrimental effects, perhaps by using smaller doses, then there may be a role for digoxin in the treatment of chronic cardiac failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Flapan
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Goodfield
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Neilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004656:Enalapril / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D004656:Enalapril; D004077:Digoxin; D005665:Furosemide