ABSTRACT
Selected patients with hypertension of relatively long duration, most of whom have received antihypertensive drugs were digitalized upon the withdrawal of the hypotensive therapy. Blood pressure reductions to almost normotensive levels were obtained by digitoxin and a much reduced dose of antihypertensives. Sustained blood pressure diminution was established in most of the cases presented. Since this is not a controlled study, other factors which help in the control of hypertension other than the effect of digitoxin could not be ruled out. It is suggested that somecases of hypertension may be due to or associated with incipient heart failure and that some cases of hypertension respond to digitalization. The possible protective role of digitalis in the future of these hypertensive patients may of reduced morbidity and mortality from cardiac failure maybe considered. It is a drug whose use for over two centuries has made it very cheap, easily available, and better studied drug than any of the present antihypertensive agents. Certainly most physicians are familiar with the use of misuse of digitoxin.