Key result
Administration of digoxin at 14 μg/kg to healthy donkeys did not elevate serum cardiac troponin I concentrations or cause signs of intoxication over 72 hours.
Why the study?
Does digoxin intravenous infusion cause myocardial injury or toxicity in healthy donkeys?
Does digoxin intravenous infusion cause myocardial injury or toxicity in healthy donkeys?
Intravenous administration of digoxin at 14 μg/kg to healthy donkeys does not cause myocardial injury or clinical signs of toxicity, suggesting a higher toxic threshold in donkeys compared to other species.
Supports tolerability at this dose in healthy donkeys; leaves open applicability to diseased equids or clinical practice.
BACKGROUND: The effect of digoxin administration on the serum concentration of the cardiac troponin I (cTnI) has not been reported to date in equidae. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the effect of digoxin on cardiac cell damage in donkeys (Equus asinus) as assessed by cTnI, acid-base and electrolyte balance and haematobiochemical profiles. Ten clinically healthy donkeys were given an IV infusion of digoxin at a dose of 14 μg/kg. Blood samples were collected from the donkeys up through 72 h post-injection. RESULTS: Three of the donkeys exhibited increased heart and respiratory rates post-injection. In the other seven animals, the heart and respiratory rates were lower 4 h post-injection. The serum digoxin concentration increased significantly at many time points after injection. The serum concentration of cTnI did not differ significantly between pre- and post-injection. An increase in blood pH was noted at 3 h after digoxin injection. There were also increases in PO2 and in oxygen saturation. Decreases in PCO2 at 2 to 48 h post-injection as well as a decrease in blood lactate at 4 h post-injection were observed. The serum concentration of glucose remained significantly elevated at all-time points after digoxin injection. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that administration of digoxin to healthy donkeys (14 μg/kg) did not result in elevations of serum cTnI concentration, signs of digoxin intoxication, ECG abnormalities and did not increase serum concentrations of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine.
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Tharwat et al. (2014) studied Healthy (n=10). Digoxin vs. Pre-injection baseline was evaluated on Serum concentration of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) (p=>0.05). Administration of digoxin at 14 μg/kg to healthy donkeys did not elevate serum cardiac troponin I concentrations or cause signs of intoxication over 72 hours.
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