Key result
Intravenous digoxin rapidly entered the umbilical circulation in pregnant dogs, with fetal plasma concentrations remaining lower than maternal levels for at least 4 days.
In a canine model, digoxin rapidly crosses the placenta and can cause fetal ECG changes despite fetal plasma concentrations remaining lower than maternal levels.
Suggests potential fetal digoxin exposure in pregnancy; leaves open human dosing and monitoring implications.
The dynamic of the placental transfer of digoxin has been studied in 12 pregnant dogs. 3H-digoxin was administered intravenously in 4 animals for 3 h. Specimens of blood were simultaneously collected from the mother and one fetus every 15 min and their radioactivity compared. Maternal and fetal ECG and arterial pressure were also recorded. The digoxin was given to 8 dogs for 3 different periods: (1) 3–4 days, (2) 8–10 days, (3) 12–14 days. Plasma concentration of digoxin of fetuses and mothers were calculated by the radio-immuno-assay technique. The study shows that digoxin enters the umbilical circulation soon after its appearance in the maternal blood; fetal plasma concentrations remain lower than the maternal for at least 4 days; however, the digitahzation effect can be observed on the fetal ECG within 3 h after administration of toxic doses of digoxin to the mother.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Jean‐Claude Fouron (2009) studied Pregnancy (n=12). Digoxin was evaluated on Placental transfer and fetal plasma concentration of digoxin. Intravenous digoxin rapidly entered the umbilical circulation in pregnant dogs, with fetal plasma concentrations remaining lower than maternal levels for at least 4 days.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: