Current role of digitalis therapy in patients with congestive heart failure.

Digitalis has been used in the treatment of chronic congestive heart failure for 215 years. In this article, numerous clinical studies and trials that have evaluated the efficacy of digitalis in the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure are reviewed. The data indicate that digitalis is a valuable therapeutic agent for relieving symptoms and improving exercise performance and left ventricular function in patients with congestive heart failure. Comparison of the various advantages and disadvantages of digitalis with alternative therapies in patients with congestive heart failure shows an important continuing role for digitalis therapy.