Digoxin withdrawal in patients with sinus rhythm

The need for maintenance treatment with digoxin was assessed in 10 elderly outpatients with sinus rhythm. Digoxin was withdrawn on the first day of the trial but any other treatment remained unchanged. The participants were seen once weekly on the same day for 5 consecutive weeks and assessed clinically, by the calculation of systolic time intervals and by M-mode echocardiography. In 2 patients the clinical condition deteriorated but in the rest digoxin was stopped without detrimental effects. Therefore, in the patient population selected, maintenance treatment with digoxin was deemed unnecessary in 90% of cases.