[Haemorrhagic necrosis of the digestive tract consecutive to massive digitalis intoxication (author's transl)]

A 60-year-old man under digitalis treatment for hypertensive heart tried to commit suicide by absorbing a 15 mg dose of digitoxin. Severe intestinal bleeding occurred 12 hours later, followed by pseudo-occlusive syndrome and ischaemia of the distal lower limbs. On abdominal incision the whole gut was found to be invaded by haemorrhagic necrosis and perforated on three points. The patients subsequently died of peritonitis. The responsibility of digitoxin in these events was demonstrated by the absence of any other cause of ischaemia, such as heart failure, shock, arrhythmia, consumption coagulopathy or use of sympathomimetic drugs. This case shows that the vasoconstrictor effect of digitalis, experimentally demonstrated but clinically controversial, is a reality, and that digitalis compounds are contra-indicated in patients with haemorrhagic necrosis of the digestive tract.