STUDIES ON DIGITALIS. IX. EFFECTS OF OUABAIN ON THE NONFAILING HUMAN HEART

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Abstract
In 4 patients without heart disease and in 2 patients with minimal cardiac abnormalities and normal right ventricular function, 0.30 to 0.60 mg ouabain elevated the right ventricular peak rate of change (dp/dt) by 9.9 to 75.3% (average = 31.5%) of control values. In 4 patients with uncomplicated atrial septal defects, in whom the left ventricular hemodynamic burden and left ventricular function were normal, 0.60 mg ouabain elevated the left ventricular peak dp/dt by 26.3 to 48.8% (average = 35.5%) of control values. These observations in intact, unanesthetized subjects indicate that ouabain is capable of stimulating the contractility of the nonfailing and of the normal human heart.