MAXIMAL EXERCISE TOLERANCE BY THE THERAPY WITH ENALAPRIL, DIGITOXIN, OR PLACEBO IN PATIENTS WITH MILD LEFT-VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION

In this randomised, placebo-controlled and double-blind study, the tes ting of the exercise tolerance was used to evaluate the effects of the therapy with either enalapril, digitoxin or placebo. The 59 involved patients had mild left ventricular dysfunction in NYHA classification II second to coronary artery disease (n = 19) or dilated cardiomyopath y (n = 40), were normotensive and in sinus rhythm. In these patients w ithout any activation of the renin angiotensin system neither the ther apy with enalapril nor with digitoxin did show a significant improveme nt in the exercise tolerance in comparison to placebo.