[Rhythm and conduction disorders caused by cardiac glycosides].

Cardiac glucosides could cause almost all kinds of rhythm and conduction disorders. In 648 patients treated with cardiac glucosides, rhythm and conduction disorders were recorded in 124 patients--19.1 per cent (58 males and 60 females), aged from 17 to 76. Ventricular extrasystoles rank first according to incidence--47 per cent; ventricular bigeminy--24.3 per cent; AV block stage I--23.4 per cent, etc. From all the 124 patients registered with intoxications induced by cardiac glucosides--one patient died, very likely due to ventricular fibrillation--0.89 per cent lethality. Toxic symptoms with initial saturation with digitalis preparation is most frequently observed in patients with grave myocardial lesions as well as rheumatic activity, accompanied by cardiac decompensation and a parallel administration of potent diuretic treatment that favours hypopotassemia and glucoside intoxication.