Abstract
Recent reports of treatment of massive digoxin overdosage have emphasized the success of medical therapy. This report describes a fatal outcome to this problem despite aggressive medical management, including pervenous cardiac pacing and draws attention to deficiencies in current treatment of a serious problem.
Full text
PDF




Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- BLISS H. A., FISHMAN W. E., SMITH P. M. Effect of alterations of blood pH on digitalis toxicity. J Lab Clin Med. 1963 Jul;62:53–58. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Beller G. A., Hood W. B., Jr, Smith T. W., Abelmann W. H., Wacker W. E. Correlation of serum magnesium levels and cardiac digitalis intoxication. Am J Cardiol. 1974 Feb;33(2):225–229. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(74)90279-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Beller G. A., Smith T. W., Abelmann W. H., Haber E., Hood W. B., Jr Digitalis intoxication. A prospective clinical study with serum level correlations. N Engl J Med. 1971 May 6;284(18):989–997. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197105062841801. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bismuth C., Motté G., Fréjaville J. P., Conso F. L'hyperkaliémie dans l'intoxication digitalique massive. Valeur pronostique et implications thérapeutiques. Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss. 1973 Dec;66(12):1537–1541. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Citrin D., Stevenson I. H., O'Malley K. Massive digoxin overdose: observations on hyperkalaemia and plasma digoxin levels. Scott Med J. 1972 Aug;17(8):275–277. doi: 10.1177/003693307201700805. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cohen H. C., Rosen K. M., Pick A. Disorders of impulse conduction and impulse formation caused by hyperkalemia in man. Am Heart J. 1975 Apr;89(4):501–509. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(75)90158-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dreifus L. S., de Azevedo I. M., Watanabe Y. Review: Electrolyte and antiarrhythmic drug interaction. Am Heart J. 1974 Jul;88(1):95–107. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(74)90355-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Evans D. E., Gillis R. A. Effect of ouabain and its interaction with diphenylhydantoin on cardiac arrhythmias induced by hypothalamic stimulation. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1975 Dec;195(3):577–586. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Harrison D. C., Robinson M. D., Kleiger R. E. Role of hypoxia in digitalis toxicity. Am J Med Sci. 1968 Dec;256(6):352–359. doi: 10.1097/00000441-196812000-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lee K. S., Klaus W. The subcellular basis for the mechanism of inotropic action of cardiac glycosides. Pharmacol Rev. 1971 Sep;23(3):193–261. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lown B., Kleiger R., Williams J. Cardioversion and digitalis drugs: changed threshold to electric shock in digitalized animals. Circ Res. 1965 Dec;17(6):519–531. doi: 10.1161/01.res.17.6.519. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mason D. T., Zelis R., Lee G., Hughes J. L., Spann J. F., Jr, Amsterdam E. A. Current concepts and treatment of digitalis toxicity. Am J Cardiol. 1971 May;27(5):546–559. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(71)90418-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nola G. T., Pope S., Harrison D. C. Assessment of the synergistic relationship between serum calcium and digitalis. Am Heart J. 1970 Apr;79(4):499–507. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(70)90255-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PELESKA B. CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS FOLLOWING CONDENSER DISCHARGES AND THEIR DEPENDENCE UPON STRENGTH OF CURRENT AND PHASE OF CARDIAC CYCLE. Circ Res. 1963 Jul;13:21–32. doi: 10.1161/01.res.13.1.21. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rumack B. H., Wolfe R. R., Gilfrich H. Phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin) treatment of massive digoxin overdose. Br Heart J. 1974 Apr;36(4):405–408. doi: 10.1136/hrt.36.4.405. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Seller R. H. The role of magnesium in digitalis toxicity. Am Heart J. 1971 Oct;82(4):551–556. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(71)90242-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Smith T. W., Haber E., Yeatman L., Butler V. P., Jr Reversal of advanced digoxin intoxication with Fab fragments of digoxin-specific antibodies. N Engl J Med. 1976 Apr 8;294(15):797–800. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197604082941501. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Spurrell R. A., Krikler D. M., Sowton E. Effects of verapamil on electrophysiological properties of anomalous atrioventricular connexion in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Br Heart J. 1974 Mar;36(3):256–264. doi: 10.1136/hrt.36.3.256. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Storstein O., Landmark K. H. Verapamil in the treatment of atrial tachycardia with block. Acta Med Scand. 1975 Dec;198(6):483–488. doi: 10.1111/j.0954-6820.1975.tb19579.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ten Eick R. E., Wyte S. R., Ross S. M., Hoffman B. F. Post-countershock arrhythmias in untreated and digitalized dogs. Circ Res. 1967 Sep;21(3):375–390. doi: 10.1161/01.res.21.3.375. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tse W. W., Han J. Interaction of epinephrine and ouabain on automaticity of canine Purkinje fibers. Circ Res. 1974 Jun;34(6):777–782. doi: 10.1161/01.res.34.6.777. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- de Carvalho A. P., Hoffman B. F., de Carvalho M. P. Two components of the cardiac action potential. I. Voltage-time course and the effect of acetylcholine on atrial and nodal cells of the rabbit heart. J Gen Physiol. 1969 Nov;54(5):607–635. doi: 10.1085/jgp.54.5.607. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]