Digoxin: its role in contemporary medicine.
Digoxin has been a key therapeutic for heart failure and atrial tachyarrhythmias for over 200 years following Withering's groundbreaking work depicting the therapeutic benefit of the common botanical foxglove in his 1785 monograph. The use of digoxin preceded any randomised evidence or even basic understanding of its mechanism of action. Over the past two decades, there has been mounting evidence further challenging the safety and efficacy of digoxin, while multiple other therapies for both heart failure and atrial tachyarrhythmias have proven to be more effective and safe. Altogether, digoxin still has an important role in contemporary pharmacotherapeutics, though its role remains controversial and should be reserved for selective patients and clinical situations, with careful attention to serum concentrations.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Marcelle A
MA
Stucky
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA Division of Cardiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Zachary D
ZD
Goldberger
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history / Q000503:physiopathology; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004077:Digoxin
CARDIOLOGY