title: Effectiveness of digitoxin versus trichlormethiazide/amiloride in congestive heart failure NYHA class II/III and sinus rhythm.
abstract: The effects of digitoxin and/or diuretic agents were investigated in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) in sinus rhythm with respect to changes in hemodynamic parameters, cardiac dimensions, and bicycle ergometric exercise capacity. In a randomized, double-blind study 16 male patients with CHF NYHA class II and III received a placebo for 1 week (baseline) and then were randomly allocated, double blind, to take either digitoxin (digitalis group, DI: N = 8) or trichlormethiazide/amiloride (diuretic group, DG: N = 8) for 3 weeks (VP I). The patients who were first treated with digitoxin received the diuretic agent for a further 3 weeks and vice versa (VP II). At baseline and after VP I and II, a physical examination, two-dimensional echocardiography, and bicycle ergometry were performed. Heart rate (HR), systolic (BPs), and diastolic (BPd) blood pressure at rest, and BPs and 50 watts, were not significantly changed during the observation period. HR at 50 watts was decreased in DI (11.5 +/- 10.1 beats/min.) after VP I and II, but not in DG. BPd was significantly reduced after VP II in DI (8.2 +/- 4.6 mmHg) and in DG (9.3 +/- 8.9 mmHg). DI presents at baseline significantly higher end-diastolic (LVEDV) and end-systolic (LVESV) left ventricular dimensions, whereas left atrial diameter (LA) and stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (LVEF) were not significantly different. After VP I, a significantly decreased LA was found in DI, but not in DG. After VP II, all cardiac dimensions were significantly reduced compared with the baseline in DI, whereas in DG only a decrease in LVESV was found. SV was significantly increased in DI, but not in DG after VP I, SV and LVEF were significantly improved in DI and in DG after VP II. Exercise capacity did not change significantly in DI and DG. Digitoxin in combination with trichlormethiazide/amiloride is effective in reducing primarily enlarged left atrial and left ventricular dimensions, and is sufficient to improve the impaired systolic left ventricular function in CHF of NYHA class II and III in sinus rhythm. However, a significant increase in exercise capacity was not found. Treatment with digitoxin seems to be more relevant as a monotherapy with trichlormethiazide/amiloride.
authors.affiliation: Center for Internal Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany. honki@msml.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huonker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sorichter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Trucksäss
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irmer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Staiger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keul
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000584:Amiloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004074:Digitoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005080:Exercise Test; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D014237:Trichlormethiazide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010919:Placebos; C044677:Esmalorid; D000584:Amiloride; D004074:Digitoxin; D014237:Trichlormethiazide