[Fate of orally administered beta-acetyldigoxin in man (author's transl)]

After oral administration of 3H-beta-acetyldigoxin to four patients aspirates of gastric and duodenal contents were obtained with intestinal tubes. Concentration of label in the aspirates was measured. Radiochromatographic analysis of the aspirates showed that 90% of the beta-acetyldigoxin was unchanged during the period it was in the stomach. In the duodenum a small part of the administered dose was transformed to 3H-alpha-acetyldigoxin. When given 3H-beta acetyl-digoxin intraduodenally to three subjects in the portal vein blood 93% of the labelled compunds was 3H-digoxin. According to these data the absorption of beta-acetyldigoxin can be described as follows: After oral ingestion beta-acetyl-digoxin rapidly passes the stomach with a half-life of 10 min. Most of the glycoside is absorbed unchanged in the duodenum. On passage through the intestinal wall the acetyl group is removed and digoxin is the active drug reaching the heart.