The relationship between cardiotoxicity and plasma digoxin concentration in conscious dogs

1 The tendency of a given oral dose of digoxin to induce cardiac dysrhythmia was determined indirectly at various times after its administration to eight conscious dogs by measurement of the intravenous dose of acetylstrophanthidin necessary to induce toxic changes in the ECG. Acetyl-strophanthidin was used because its rapid elimination from the body permitted estimates to be made 45, 180 and 360 min after digoxin administration. 2 Each dog underwent four studies in which doses of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg digoxin were used in a randomized sequence allowing at least ten days between each dose. 3 Digoxin reduced the amount of acetylstrophanthidin required to cause toxic changes in the ECG; this increase in cardiac sensitivity was dose-dependent. 4 There was no correlation between plasma levels of digoxin and the tendency to dysrhythmia, since peak plasma concentrations of digoxin were reached at about 60 min after dosing whereas maximal sensitivity to acetylstrophanthidin was found 3 to 6 h after administration of digoxin. 5 These results suggest that there is little or no increased risk of cardiotoxicity during periods of transient increase in plasma levels of digoxin.