Document Detail


Emergency step-by-step specific immunotherapy in severe digoxin poisoning: an observational cohort study.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19262393     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a step-by-step fixed dose of specific immunotherapy protocol in case of severe digoxin poisoning in an open uncontrolled prospective study. METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients were admitted because of severe digoxin poisoning. The inclusion criteria were: digoxin overdose and either life-threatening arrhythmia; high-degree atrioventricular block, ventricular arrhythmia, or bradycardia less than 50 bpm and hyperkalaemia (>5.5 mmol/l). A two-step protocol of antidigoxin antibodies treatment was carried out. At admission, every patient received two vials of specific Fab-fragments. If after 1 h following infusion ECG signs regressed, no more treatment was given. If ECG signs did not regress, patients were given two more vials. At inclusion and 6 h after immunotherapy, clinical (cardiac rhythm, ECG records) and biological (serum digoxin concentration, potassium) findings were recorded. RESULTS: Patients had a median (interquartile range) age of 83 (75-90) years. Four patients had acute poisoning and 16 chronic overdoses. Eleven patients showed ventricular arrhythmia, and five had high-degree atrioventricular block. Seventy percent of the patients needed only the first step. Significant decreases were observed in the number of cardiac dysrhythmia (16 vs. three patients), in the median (interquartile range) of serum digoxin concentration [5 microg/l (3.8-6.2) vs. 0.4 microg/l (0.3-2.2)] and in serum potassium [4.6 mmol/l (4.1-5.5) vs. 3.85 mmol/l (3.7-4.55)] before and after immunotherapy. The digoxin-related mortality was 5%. CONCLUSION: This protocol of step-by-step digoxin-specific immunotherapy seems to be as effective as the equimolar treatment, and there was significant cost reduction in case of acute poisoning.
Authors:
Pascal Bilbault; Rachid Oubaassine; Hassene Rahmani; Thomas Lavaux; Vincent Castelain; Philippe Sauder; Francis Schneider
Related Documents :
4002783 - Muzolimine in advanced chronic renal failure.
375433 - Gentamicin and penicillin in the treatment of severe respiratory infections.
3790923 - Enteric bacteriology, absorption, morphology and emptying after ileal pouch-anal anasto...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Clinical Trial; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine     Volume:  16     ISSN:  1473-5695     ISO Abbreviation:  Eur J Emerg Med     Publication Date:  2009 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-05-06     Completed Date:  2009-08-04     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9442482     Medline TA:  Eur J Emerg Med     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  145-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency and Intensive Care, School of Medicine, Hôpital de Hautepierre, Strasbourg, France. pascal.bilbault@chru-strasbourg.fr
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / immunology,  poisoning*
Arrhythmias, Cardiac / chemically induced*,  therapy
Clinical Protocols*
Digoxin / immunology,  poisoning*
Electrocardiography
Emergencies
Female
Humans
Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / administration & dosage,  therapeutic use*
Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage,  therapeutic use*
Male
Overdose / therapy
Prospective Studies
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; 0/Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; 0/Immunologic Factors; 20830-75-5/Digoxin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  The effect of scalp block and local infiltration on the haemodynamic and stress response to skull-pi...
Next Document:  Pronation versus supination maneuvers for the reduction of 'pulled elbow': a randomized clinical tri...