CRP and heart failure: Methods and Results: Based on the experimental finding that cardiac glycosides potently inhibit hepatic CRP synthesis on the transcriptional level in vitro, 60 patients with decompensated heart failure, NYHA III–IV, severely reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF < 40%), and elevated CRP plasma levels were treated by either digoxin + conventional heart failure therapy (30 patients) or by conventional heart failure therapy alone (30 patients).