Treatment of a case of lanatoside C intoxication with digoxin-specific F(ab')2 antibody fragments.

Abstract

In animal experiments arrhythmias induced by cardiac glycosides which prove fatal if untreated can be terminated by administration of glycoside-specific antibodies. Immunotherapy with digoxin-specific antibody fragments had hitherto only been employed on one occasion, namely in a person who had taken a massive overdose of digoxin with suicidal intent and who had failed to respond to symptomatic treatment. The present paper describes the use of F(ab')2 fragments of digoxin-specific antibodies in a female patient with lanatoside C intoxication to treat the associated life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia. The arrhythmia was rapidly terminated and normal sinus rhythm was restored. Treatment with the heterologous antibodies did not cause any side-effects.

• Authors: T Hess, P Stucki, S Barandun, G Scholtysik, W Riesen
• Journal: American heart journal (Am Heart J) Vol. 98 Issue 6 Pg. 767-71 (Dec 1979) ISSN: 0002-8703 [Print] United States
• PMID: 495429 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies
• Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
• Lanatosides
• Digoxin

Topics

• Antibodies
• Digoxin (immunology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments (administration & dosage)
• Lanatosides (poisoning)