medigoxin and Heart-Diseases

0.3 mg/day betamethyldigoxin was given per os in three daily administrations to 8 healthy subjects, and 8 compensated and 8 decompensated heart patients. Prior to the treatment, and 6 hr after the last administration, blood digoxin values were determined radio-immunologically, together with cardiac output, systolic stroke volume, cardiac index (dilution of indocyanine green), and systolic time intervals, by simultaneous recording of the ECG, carotid pulse, and the phonocardiogram. No significant change in output, stroke volume and cardiac index was noted in the healthy subjects, whereas these parameters were distinctly improved in the decompensated patients. Changes in the systolic intervals after treatment were significant in all cases though there was no significant correlation with the blood digoxin levels reached. In particular, the healthy and compensated subjects displayed a reduction in the corrected electromechanical systole (delta Q-S2), the corrected pre-ejection period (delta PEP), the corrected left ventricular ejection time (delta LVET), and their ratio (PEP/LVET), whereas in the decompensated patients the picture differed to the extent that the LVET increased owing to an augment-systolic stroke volume, the other parameters being reduced. In the healthy subjects, the polygraphic data were normal prior to the treatment, while in the compensated patients delta PEP and the PEP/LVET ratio were enhanced, and the delta LVET was less than in the normal subjects. It is felt that recording of the systolic intervals may be regarded as a sound method, owing to its simplicity and its ability to demonstrate latent cardiac failure before haemodynamic changes appear. Simultaneous determination of serum digoxin and the polygraphic data, therefore, opens the way to the commencement of appropriate, safe and timely management of as yet non-decompensated heart patients.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Cardiac Output; Cardiovascular System; Carotid Arteries; Digoxin; Electrocardiography; Heart Diseases; Hemodynamics; Humans; Male; Medigoxin; Middle Aged; Myocardial Contraction; Phonocardiography; Pulse; Stroke Volume; Systole

Topics: Acetyldigoxins; Adult; Aged; Calcium; Clinical Trials as Topic; Digoxin; Female; Heart Diseases; Humans; Male; Medigoxin; Middle Aged; Potassium

Topics: Adult; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Digoxin; Echocardiography; Exercise; Female; Heart; Heart Diseases; Heart Ventricles; Humans; Male; Medigoxin; Middle Aged; Nifedipine; Propranolol; Stroke Volume

The increasing use of amiodarone as antiarrhythmic drug has raised the possibilities of dangerous effects from amiodarone-digitalis interaction. We have studied twelve patients who were taking digitalis and to whom amiodarone was administered because of arrhythmias. We found a 75,42% increase of digitalis plasma levels (p less than 0,001) in the early days of amiodarone therapy, and a 52,1% increase (p less than 0,001) in the medium term. An inverse correlation was found (r = -0,65; p less than 0,05) between the plasma levels of digitalis during the steady-state control period and during the following 2-to-6 months evaluation. Acute episodes of cardiac failure caused in our patients an abrupt increase of digitalis plasma levels: in three patients digitalis toxicity occurred. Based on our experience, we recommend that the dose of digitalis be halved when the two drugs are given together in patients with various degree of cardiac failure; moreover digitalis plasma levels should be frequently monitored in these patients. On the other hand digitalis administered according to age, sex, weight, kidney function, together with amiodarone, can be given at full dosage in patients without cardiac failure.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Amiodarone; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Benzofurans; Digitalis Glycosides; Digoxin; Drug Interactions; Female; Heart Diseases; Humans; Male; Medigoxin; Middle Aged

Topics: Absorption; Acetyldigoxins; Aged; Digoxin; Female; Heart Diseases; Humans; Male; Medigoxin; Middle Aged

Topics: Adult; Aged; Digoxin; Diuretics; Drug Interactions; Female; Heart Diseases; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Male; Medigoxin; Middle Aged; Radioimmunoassay; Renal Dialysis; Uremia

Topics: Aged; Digoxin; Female; Heart Diseases; Heart Failure; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Medigoxin; Middle Aged; Stroke Volume

Topics: Adult; Biological Availability; Circadian Rhythm; Digoxin; Heart Diseases; Humans; Medigoxin