Digitalis toxicity at Duke Hospital, 1973 to 1984.
In a review of the records of 81 patients with the discharge diagnosis of digitalis toxicity, I found a preponderance of very old patients, many of whom had anorexia, nausea, and prerenal azotemia. Arrhythmias were common (93%) and reflected enhanced automaticity, enhanced AV block, or both. Atrial fibrillation with complete heart block and a regular junctional rhythm should particularly elicit suspicion of digitalis toxicity. Atrial tachycardia with block is less specific and less frequent.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000855:Anorexia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000139:chemically induced; D004070:Digitalis; D004077:Digoxin / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D006325:Heart Atria; D006327:Heart Block / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D014511:Uremia / Q000139:chemically induced
D004077:Digoxin