title: The effect of high dose digoxin on cytokines in healthy dogs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta are pro-inflammatory cytokines, causing myocardial dysfunction and a negative inotropic effect. The drugs used to treat heart failure affect the production of cytokines. Digoxin, on which this study was focused, is one of the drugs for the treatment of heart failure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to examine the early effects of high doses of digoxin on the production of cytokines in healthy dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Digoxin was given parenterally to dogs at 0.15 mg/kg. IL-1beta and TNF-alpha production and levels of digoxin in the serum were measured 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h following administration of digoxin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As the levels of serum digoxin taken at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of administration were considered significantly high compared with preceding values (p < 0.001), no notable change in serum IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that high doses of digoxin do not cause a significant cytokine production in heart muscle in the early phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Yüzüncü Yil, Tip Fakültesi, Biyokimya Anabilim Dali, Maraş Caddesi, 65300 Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Haluk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dülger
authors.forename: Mehmet Ramazan
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sekeroğlu
authors.forename: Beyhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eryonucu
authors.forename: Tevfik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noyan
authors.forename: Süleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alici
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004077:Digoxin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004077:Digoxin