We studied the inotropic response to dopamine and digoxin in 20 patients with severe sepsis and left ventricular failure. Left ventricular failure was defined as a left ventricular stroke work index less than or equal to 40 g.m/m2 at a pulmonary artery wedge pressure greater than or equal to 15 mm Hg. Hemodynamic assessment was obtained before and following administration of digoxin 10 micrograms/kg IV or dopamine, 5 to 12 micrograms/kg/min IV. Patients treated with digoxin demonstrated a significant increase in LVSWI. The LVSWI increased 13 +/- 10 percent in the dopamine-treated patients compared with 74 +/- 16 percent in the digoxin patients (p less than 0.02). We conclude that digoxin exhibited significant inotropic activity in patients with sepsis.