A cardiac glycoside used to treat congenital heart failure and arrhythmias by increasing the force and velocity of myocardial contraction is which?

Unlock all questions

This demo includes only 20 questions. Upgrade to access hundreds of questions, flashcards, exam simulations, and disable ads.

Full question bankExam simulationsFlashcards
From $24.99Unlock all

Prepare for the BOC Clinical Chemistry Test with our comprehensive quiz. Study with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Enhance your readiness and confidence for the exam!

Multiple Choice

A cardiac glycoside used to treat congenital heart failure and arrhythmias by increasing the force and velocity of myocardial contraction is which?

Explanation:
Digoxin builds heart muscle strength by inhibiting the sodium–potassium ATPase pump in cardiac cells. This raises intracellular sodium, which reduces the activity of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, allowing calcium to accumulate inside the cells. The extra calcium makes the heart squeeze more forcefully and with greater speed (positive inotropy and enhanced contractile velocity). Digoxin also increases vagal tone, which slows conduction through the AV node and helps control rapid heart rhythms. This combination makes it the drug of choice for improving function in heart failure and for certain arrhythmias. The other listed drugs do not share this mechanism or clinical use: acetaminophen is a pain/fever reducer, lithium is a mood stabilizer with cardiac effects elsewhere, and phenytoin is an anticonvulsant with different indications.

Digoxin builds heart muscle strength by inhibiting the sodium–potassium ATPase pump in cardiac cells. This raises intracellular sodium, which reduces the activity of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, allowing calcium to accumulate inside the cells. The extra calcium makes the heart squeeze more forcefully and with greater speed (positive inotropy and enhanced contractile velocity). Digoxin also increases vagal tone, which slows conduction through the AV node and helps control rapid heart rhythms. This combination makes it the drug of choice for improving function in heart failure and for certain arrhythmias. The other listed drugs do not share this mechanism or clinical use: acetaminophen is a pain/fever reducer, lithium is a mood stabilizer with cardiac effects elsewhere, and phenytoin is an anticonvulsant with different indications.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy