Effect of metildigoxin (beta-methyldigoxin) on congestive heart failure as evaluated by multiclinical double blind study.

The efficacy on congestive heart failure of metildigoxin (beta-methyldigoxin, MD), a derivative of digoxin (DX), which had a good absorption rate from digestive tract, was examined in a double blind study using a gorup comparison method. After achieving digitalization with oral MD or intravenous deslanoside in the non-blind manner, maintenance treatment was initiated and the effects of orally administered MD and DX were compared. MD was administered in 44 cases, DX in 42. The usefulness of the drug was evaluated after 2 weeks, taking into account the condition of the patient and the case of administration. No significant difference was observed between the usefulness of MD and that of DX. The use of digitalis differs according to the preparation involved. In the double blind study on MD and DX, the way in which digitalis was used may have inclined towards the way in which DX, which is more familiar to us, is used. Therefore, even if MD were superior to DX in usefulness, it would be difficult to obtain a result which proved this. Taking these points into consideration, it is concluded that MD is practically useful in clinical medicine.