[The treatment of digitalis poisoning with antibiotics (author's transl)].
Digitalis intoxication occurs frequently and proves fatal in 5-10% of all cases. Treatment is limited to symptomatic measures. Glycoside-specific antibodies offer a new way of treatment of digitalis intoxication. In our experiments with cats, they were found to be highly effective in reversing digoxin-induced arrhythmias. Specific antibodies have previously been employed in a patient with suicidal digoxin intoxication. We report a case of nonsuicidal Lanatosid-C intoxication treated with F(ab')2-fragments of digoxin-specific antibodies from the sheep. The treatment was successful and without side-effects. Serum concentration of free digoxin and total digoxin measured during and after treatment showed a decrease of free and a sharp raise in total digoxin. For clinical use, antibody fragments are superior to intact antibodies. Problems and possible indications concerning the treatment of digitalis intoxication with antibodies are briefly discussed.
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002415:Cats; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000276:immunology / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans
D000906:Antibodies; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides
Zur Antikörpertherapie der Digitalisintoxikation.