title: Microencapsulated charcoal hemoperfusion: a possible therapeutic adjunct in digoxin toxicity.
abstract: Attempts to remove substantial quantities of digoxin by either peritoneal or hemodialysis, have been unsuccessful due to their low clearance rate. The present study determined the in-vivo clearance rate for digoxin of a single microcapsule of 300 gm of activated charcoal. The clearance rate was 55 +/- 5 ml/min (mean +/- SEM) in the first hour and 48.4 +/- 4 ml/min in the second; these values are approximately five-fold higher than with other dialysis techniques. No evidence of a post-dialysis rebound increase in serum digoxin levels was found, implying that peripheral tissues can rapidly release digoxin to the diminishing serum pool. Preliminary data obtained suggest a beneficial effect on arrhythmias and lowering of the myocardial to serum rate of digoxin after hemoperfusion.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002606:Charcoal; D004077:Digoxin / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D004285:Dogs; D006464:Hemoperfusion / Q000379:methods*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D002606:Charcoal; D004077:Digoxin