Effect of Digoxin on Ventricular Remodeling and Responsiveness of beta-Adrenoceptors in Chronic Volume Overload.

BACKGROUND: Digoxin improves baroreflex function and reduces neurohumoral activation in severe heart failure, but it is uncertain how digoxin affects ventricular remodeling and progression to left ventricular dysfunction. In addition, the effect of digoxin in in vitro beta-adrenoceptor density and function, and contractile reserve in vivo is not well understood. METHODS AND RESULTS: To study this, we compared digoxin with placebo treatment in rats with chronic volume overload induced by aortocaval fistula and in sham-operated control animals.