Citation

Erbel R, Kraemer R, Kleesiek K, Schweizer P, Pop T, Effert S. Z. Kardiol. 1979; 68(8): 590-598.

Vernacular Title

Suizidale Digitalisintoxikation: Beziehung zwischen der Digitalis-Serumkonzentration und den elektrokardiographischen Befunden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1979, Steinkopff)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

543208

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.

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