Abstract

MAIQUEZ ASUERO, P. et al. Confirmed and suspected digoxin intoxications. An. Med. Interna (Madrid) [online]. 2003, vol.20, n.8, pp.13-18. ISSN 0212-7199.

Aims: To quantify and analyze suspected and actual digoxin intoxications. Method: A drug-use study has been carried out of digoxinaemia requests and results in patients treated chronically with digoxin. Results: Digoxin intoxication (presence of symptoms and typical signs) was suspected in 31.3% of the patients. The percentage analytically confirmed intoxications (digoxinaemia > 2 ng/mL) was 16.6%. Sex, age, and dosage had no significant effect in the suspicion or confirmation of digoxin intoxication. Hospitalization and the association of hypokalaemic drugs or those increasing digoxinaemia had no effect in the suspicion of digoxin intoxication. In analytically confirmed intoxications, no significant differences were found between suspected and non-suspected cases. Conclusions: The suspicion of this intoxications is not usually related with digoxin serum levels, and thus, the toxic limit is imprecise.

Keywords : Digoxin toxicity; Elderly patients; Serum levels.

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