[Role of digitalis in the pharmacologic treatment of cardiac insufficiency].

The use of digoxin in some patients with heart failure is controversial. Although many patients taking digoxin have no clinical deterioration after discontinuance of the drug, there is a group who demonstrate clinical deterioration on digoxin withdrawal (patients with enlarged hearts, S3 gallop and supraventricular dysrhythmias). The risk of digitalis administration is high in some patients with increased sensitivity to the drug--renal failure, thyroid disfunction, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstruction lung disease and geriatric patients. It seems reasonable that on 1989 the use of digitalis on heart failure should be preferred on patients with supraventricular arrhythmias, enlarged hearts and S3 gallop.