In recent years there has been a marked decrease in cardiac glycosides use in patients with heart failure in sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation. The results of published studies contradict each other. Some of them doubt the favorable effect of digoxin in patients with heart failure; others refute the increase in the lethality and frequency of hospitalizations associated with the use of digoxin. In this regard, we found it important to analyze these reports impartially and reflect modern views on the mechanisms of cardiac glycosides, the pharmacokinetics and the possibility of optimizing digitalis therapy in cardiac practice.
Keywords: cardiac glycosides, digitalis, digoxin, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, lethality, hospitalizations.