[Comparison of the effects of digitalis and nitroglycerine in coronary heart disease with cardiac failure on exercise (author's transl)].

The effects of moderately rapid oral digitalization and sublingual nitroglycerine were studied in 13 patients with coronary heart disease without signs of manifest heart failure but definite rise in pulmonary artery pressure on ergometric exercise. Digitalis had no effect on exercise-induced rise in pulmonary pressure. In the individual case there may be a clear-cut deterioration in exercise response. This possible unfavourable digitalis effect cannot be predicted in a given case from the clinical state and thus one must critically assess digitalis treatment in coronary heart disease without manifest heart failure. On the other hand, the favourable effect of nitroglycerine in lowering pulmonary arterial pressure at rest and preventing an abnormal pressure rise on exercise underlines its value in the treatment of both compensated and uncompensated coronary heart disease.