Specific removal of digoxin by hemoperfusion through agarose polyacrolein microsphere polyacrolein microsphere...

The efficacy of a new, biocompatible, specific immunosorbent for hemoperfusive removal of digoxin is described. The sorbent contains antidigoxin antibodies covalently bound to polyacrolein microspheres, 0.2 mu diam. Thousands of microspheres are matrix-encapsulated in crosslinked agarose to form beads of 500 to 800 mu diam. Digoxin intoxicated dogs showed heart block, ventricular and atrial tachycardia and extended runs of PVCs. During hemoperfusion the abnormal ECG abated; at 2 h of hemoperfusion the ECG tracings returned to normal. Up to 25% of the total digoxin burden was removed. The numbers of the blood cells and the content of a battery of relevant soluble components of the blood remained constant. Dogs were alive and well after the hemoperfusion. Non hemoperfused dogs, which received antiarrythmic agents, did not survive the intoxication. This is the first report of a practical hemoperfusive system for the specific removal of digoxin from whole blood.