Key result
Post mortem serum concentrations of digoxin after suspected fatal overdosage ranged from 7.2 to 71 ng/ml, substantially higher than mean therapeutic (1.34 ng/ml) and toxic (3.11 ng/ml) levels.
Why the study?
What are the post mortem serum levels of cardiac glycosides in patients who died from suspected overdosage compared to therapeutic and toxic levels?
Observational (n=13)
What are the post mortem serum levels of cardiac glycosides in patients who died from suspected overdosage compared to therapeutic and toxic levels?
Post mortem serum levels of cardiac glycosides are significantly higher in suspected overdose deaths compared to therapeutic or toxic levels, aiding in forensic diagnosis.
Post-mortem digoxin >7 ng/ml may support fatal overdose diagnosis; leaves open validation in larger autopsy series.
Post mortem serum concentrations of cardiac glycosides have been measured in 13 patients who had suddenly died from suspected overdosage of cardiac glycosides. With digoxin, the highest level observed was 71 ng/ml after an intramuscular injection to an infant, whilst levels of 7.2 to 24 ng/ml were found after oral administration to adults. These levels are much higher than the mean therapeutic levels, which were 1.34 ng/ml for optimally digitalised patients and 3.11 ng/ml for those showing evidence of toxicity, although some overlap did occur. Other cardiac glycosides (digitoxin, lanatoside C and deslanoside) showed a similar relationship between concentrations found during therapy and after overdosage.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
A.C. Moffat (1974) conducted an observational in Suspected overdosage of cardiac glycosides (n=13). Cardiac glycoside overdosage vs. Therapeutic levels was evaluated on Post mortem serum concentrations of cardiac glycosides. Post mortem serum concentrations of digoxin after suspected fatal overdosage ranged from 7.2 to 71 ng/ml, substantially higher than mean therapeutic (1.34 ng/ml) and toxic (3.11 ng/ml) levels.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: