Treatment of a case of lanatoside C intoxication with digoxin-specific F(ab')2 antibody fragments.
In animal experiments arrhythmias induced by cardiac glycosides which prove fatal if untreated can be terminated by administration of glycoside-specific antibodies. Immunotherapy with digoxin-specific antibody fragments had hitherto only been employed on one occasion, namely in a person who had taken a massive overdose of digoxin with suicidal intent and who had failed to respond to symptomatic treatment. The present paper describes the use of F(ab')2 fragments of digoxin-specific antibodies in a female patient with lanatoside C intoxication to treat the associated life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia. The arrhythmia was rapidly terminated and normal sinus rhythm was restored. Treatment with the heterologous antibodies did not cause any side-effects.
D000906:Antibodies; D004077:Digoxin / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007799:Lanatosides / Q000506:poisoning*
D000906:Antibodies; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007799:Lanatosides; D004077:Digoxin