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Failure of long-term digitalization to prevent rapid ventricular response in patients with paroxysmal atrial

E Galun1, M Y Flugelman, M Glickson

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine A, Hadassah University Hospital, Ein Karem, Jerusalem, Israel.

Chest
|April 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Long-term digoxin therapy does not effectively lower heart rate in patients experiencing paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. This study found similar ventricular rates in treated and untreated patients, questioning digoxin

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Digitalis (digoxin) is commonly prescribed for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation to control ventricular rate.
  • The effectiveness of long-term digoxin in managing ventricular response during paroxysmal atrial fibrillation requires verification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if long-term digoxin therapy effectively reduces ventricular rate during paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
  • To compare ventricular rates in patients on digoxin versus those not taking rate-controlling medications.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study involving 13 patients on long-term digoxin therapy and 14 untreated patients.
  • Measurement of ventricular rate during paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in both groups.
  • Statistical comparison of ventricular rates between the digoxin-treated and control groups.

Main Results:

  • The mean ventricular rate in the digoxin-treated group was 121 +/- 15 beats per minute.
  • The mean ventricular rate in the untreated control group was 118 +/- 16 beats per minute.
  • No statistically significant difference in ventricular rates was observed between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • Long-term digoxin therapy, even at adequate therapeutic levels, is not effective in reducing the ventricular response during paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
  • Current clinical assumptions regarding digoxin's efficacy in this context may be invalid.

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