Digoxin Poisoning Management
Introduction
- Digoxin is a cardioactive glycoside indicated for atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure
- Acts as a sodium/potassium pump inhibitor for cardiac myocytes à toxicity arises with too much intracellular Na+ inhibiting the sodium/calcium pump from working properly (increasing intracellular calcium)
- Increased inotropy within the cardiac myocytes à dysrhythmias
- EKG abnormalities: premature ventricular contractions, biphasic T wave, shortened QT interval, AV block
- Digoxin therapeutic levels range from 0.8-2.0 ng/ml (toxicity can begin >2 ng/ml)
Pharmacology
| Digoxin Immune Fab (DigiFab or DigiBind) | |
| Dose | 1 vial = 40mg (binds to 0.5mg of digoxin)Unknown toxicity level: Initial à 10vialsVials = Total body load (mg) x 2For chronic ingestion of unknown amount3-6 vials can be given for adults 1-2 vials can be given for children |
| Administration | IV infusion over 30 minutes If cardiac arrest is imminent a bolus injection can be given |
| PK/PD | Onset: 20-90 minutesDuration of action: 15 – 20 hrs |
| Adverse Effects | Orthostatic hypotension, ventricular tachycardia, worsening heat failure, hypokalemia |
| Mechanism of Action | Immune antigen-binding fragments that rapidly bind with digoxin to decrease free digoxin levels within the body |
| Compatibility | 0.9% NS Only |
| Comments | Monitor K+ closely as it shifts intracellularly potentially causing hypokalemia.Total concentration of digoxin may be falsely elevated after administration due to in free drug & bounded drug.Free digoxin concentrations are more clinically useful |
Overview of Evidence
| Author, year | Design/ sample size | Intervention & Comparison | Outcome |
| Wei et al., 2021 | Case reports (n=121) | DigiBind vs DigiFab adverse events reported to FAERS from 1986-2019 | 87.2% of DigiBind reports were serious AEs vs. 62.8% of DigiFabHypotension, cardiac arrest, and death were among the most serious AEs |
| Ward et al, 2000 | Observational (n=16) | DigiBind vs DigiFab in healthy volunteers | Both Fab products reduced free digoxin serum concentrations to below assay detection Total digoxin serum concentrations increased approximately 10-fold (indicated fab product binding digoxin) |
| Renard et al., 1997 | Observational (n=16) | Influence of age & renal dysfunction on digoxin-specific Fab pharmacokinetics •Doses 80-800mg infused over 0.25-2hr •Patients aged 35-90 with CrCl 10.6-122.1 ml/min | Linear decrease of total body clearance is linked to renal function and age, but not VdPlasma half-lives ranged from 11-34.5hrsAll patients recovered and no adverse effects were reported |
| Antman et al., 1990 | Open-label trial (n=150) | Digoxin-specific Fab fragment dosed based on total ingested amount (mg) or digoxin serum concentration (ng/ml) | 90% of patient toxicity resolved or improved with 10% showing no response Median dose ~ 200mg (5 vials)Highest dose ~ 1600mg (40 vials) |
Conclusions
- Digoxin toxicity is a serious & life-threatening condition if not appropriately reversed by an available antidote
- At least 10 vials of digoxin Immune Fab to treat digoxin toxicity levels within the body
- Age and renal function are proven not to be factors prohibiting digoxin toxicity treatment
References
- Bismuth C, Gaultier M, Conso F, Efthymiou ML. Hyperkalemia in acute digitalis poisoning: prognostic significance and therapeutic implications. Clin Toxicol. 1973;6(2):153-162. doi:10.3109/15563657308990513
- David MNV, Shetty M. Digoxin. [Updated 2022 Sep 5]. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556025/
- Lexicomp Online, Lexi-Drugs Online. Waltham, MA: UpToDate, Inc.; January 2023. Accessed January 16, 2023. https://online.lexi.com.
- Antman et al. Treatment of 150 cases of life-threatening digitalis intoxication with digoxin-specific Fab antibody fragments. Final report of a multicenter study. Circulation. 1990;81(6):1744-1752. doi:10.1161/01.cir.81.6.1744
- Renard C, Grene-Lerouge N, Beau N, Baud F, Scherrmann JM. Pharmacokinetics of digoxin-specific Fab: effects of decreased renal function and age. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1997;44(2):135-138. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2125.1997.00654.x
- Roberts DM, Gallapatthy G, Dunuwille A, Chan BS. Pharmacological treatment of cardiac glycoside poisoning. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2016;81(3):488-495. doi:10.1111/bcp.12814
- Ujhelyi MR, Robert S. Pharmacokinetic aspects of digoxin-specific Fab therapy in the management of digitalis toxicity. Clin Pharmacokinet. 1995;28(6):483-493. doi:10.2165/00003088-199528060-00006
- Wei, S., Niu, M.T. & Dores, G.M. Adverse Events Associated with Use of Digoxin Immune Fab Reported to the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System, 1986–2019. Drugs – Real World Outcomes 8, 253–262 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40801-021-00242-x
- Ward SB, Sjostrom L, Ujhelyi MR. Comparison of the pharmacokinetics and in vivo bioaffinity of DigiTAb versus Digibind. Ther Drug Monit. 2000 Oct;22(5):599-607. doi: 10.1097/00007691-200010000-00016. PMID: 11034267.
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