title: [Pharmacokinetics of digoxin in the aged].
abstract: Many elderly are treated with digitalis preparations. Both over- and under-dosage occur often. To obtain better dosage the pharmacokinetics of digoxin are discussed, as well as changes in it in the process of ageing. The body composition changes with ageing: the fat content increases and the lean body mass decreases. Moreover there is an important sex difference for all age categories. The decrease in lean body mass causes a decrease in distribution volume of digoxin. Furthermore it causes a decrease in creatinine production, masking the (physiological) decrease in glomerular filtration rate by 'normal' plasma creatinine levels. To estimate the renal function, determining digoxin elimination, with the plasma creatinine level, a formula is discussed with other parameters (weight, age, sex), that enables a reliable estimate. The renal function thus found enables estimation of the daily eliminated fraction. Combination of this estimate with a loading dose, reduced regarding the decreased distribution volume , results in a daily dose.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001823:Body Composition; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D004077:Digoxin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D004077:Digoxin; D003404:Creatinine
vernacular_title: De farmacokinetiek van digoxine bij bejaarden.