Hemodynamic effects of digoxin during acute cardiac failure: a comparison in patients with and without acute myocardial infarction.

The hemodynamic effects of digitalis were examined in ten patients with acute cardiac failure. Administration of 10 micrograms/kg of digoxin iv resulted in significant increases in cardiac index, stroke volume index, and left ventricular stroke work index within one hour in five patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and five patients with atherosclerotic heart disease without AMI. These increases were maintained 2 h after digoxin therapy. Indirect assessment of global myocardial oxygen supply (coronary perfusion pressure) and demand (heart rate X systolic arterial pressure X wedge pressure product) did not reveal adverse changes. Digoxin therapy results in rapid improvement in cardiac function during acute cardiac failure in patients with and without AMI.