Acute digitalis poisoning: the role of intravenous magnesium sulfate.
Acute digitalis poisoning is a complex emergency with a reported mortality rate of 3% to 25%. In severe overdose, the sodium, potassium-adenosine triphosphatase system is severely inhibited, leading to cardiac dysrhythmias and an elevation of the serum potassium. Magnesium, a cofactor regulating this ion transport system, can successfully treat acute digitalis-induced rhythm disturbances and restore the transmembrane potassium gradient. This paper discusses the cellular mechanism involved in digitalis toxicity and reviews the literature concerning the use of magnesium in acute cardiac glycoside poisoning.
D000208:Acute Disease; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced; D003422:Critical Care; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000506:poisoning*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate