Acute hemodynamic effects of digitalis.

The available data suggest that acute administration of digoxin improves rest and exercise hemodynamics in patients in sinus rhythm or in atrial fibrillation who manifest a low cardiac output and increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure that is due to systolic dysfunction. It appears that these acute beneficial effects are maintained during chronic digoxin therapy. The hemodynamic effects of digoxin in patients with isolated diastolic dysfunction and abnormal hemodynamics remain to be investigated.