[Pharmacodynamic studies in suicidal digoxin poisoning (author's transl)].

Abstract

In two patients with suicidal digoxin poisoning the correlations between serum digoxin concentration and changes in the duration of QTc and the flattening of the T-waves were studied. The digoxin serum half-life following suicidal digoxin poisoning was in the first patient (10 mg beta-acetyl derivative of digoxin) 77 h, prolonged cause of renal insufficiency, and in the second patient 39.6 h. (20 mg beta-acetyl derivative of digoxin). In both patients the digoxin induced flattening of the T-wave reached a plateau of maximum efficacy at a serum level of 2-3 ng/ml with no further change up to a serum level of 13.2 ng/ml and 9.6 ng/ml respectively. A linear correlation, however, was found between the digoxin serum concentration and the digoxin induced shortening of QTc, r = 0.88 and r = 0.92 respectively. A plateau maximum efficacy was not found. The regression equations were y = -12.0 chi + 430.8 and y = -8.0 chi + 391.9 respectively. The shortening of QTc is therefore an important parameter for the diagnosis of digoxin poisoning. It can be determined very quick with no methodical problems.

• Authors: R Erbel, R Kraemer, K Kleesiek, P Schweizer, T Pop, S Effert
• Journal: Zeitschrift fur Kardiologie (Z Kardiol) Vol. 68 Issue 8 Pg. 590-8 (Sep 1979) ISSN: 0300-5860 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Suizidale Digitalisintoxikation: Beziehung zwischen der Digitalis-Serumkonzentration und den elektrokardiographischen Befunden.
• PMID: 543208 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Digoxin

Topics

• Digoxin (blood, poisoning)
• Electrocardiography
• Half-Life
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Suicide