[Problems in the use of cardiac glycosides in ischemic heart disease]

With the help of instances from literature and own experimental and clinical experiences is described that a schematic digitalisation in ischaemic heart diseases is not worth being advocated scientifically. Heart glycosides are indicated especially then, when a heart insufficiency stands in the foreground. In the acute phase of infarction, without manifest heart insufficiency, however, in individual cases they can deteriorate the myocardial oxygen balance and thus the clinical course. In myocardial infarction with severe heart insufficiency up to the cardiogenic shock all therapeutic possibilities should be utilized; to this belongs also the application of glycosides. As a rule in cardiogenic shock after myocardial infarction glycosides have no sufficient measurable influence on haemodynamics. Heart glycosides together with an individually adapted kinetotherapy are of importance for the metaphylaxis in patients with infarction.