Why the study?
Does the era of more intensive diuretic therapy increase the incidence of digitalis intoxication in digitalis-treated patients?
Does the era of more intensive diuretic therapy increase the incidence of digitalis intoxication in digitalis-treated patients?
The incidence of digitalis intoxication doubled between 1950-52 and 1964-66, likely driven by hypokalemia secondary to more intensive diuretic therapy.
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Intensive diuretic therapy was associated with higher digitalis intoxication rates; leaves open optimal potassium management with contemporary regimens.
All digitalis‐treated patients from two three‐year periods, 1950–52 and 1964–66, have been compared for the incidence of digitalis intoxication. Out of 418 patients during the first period, 8.6% developed intoxication, whereas this occurred in 17.7% of 679 patients in the second period, i.e. an increase of about 100%, although the doses of digitalis on the whole were lower in the second period. A much more intensive diuretic therapy seems to bear the main responsibility for this marked increase in the number of intoxications, which view is supported by the fact that the average serum potassium was significantly lower in the intoxicated than in the non‐intoxicated patients.
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Jørgensen et al. (1970) studied this question.
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