[Preliminary data on the pharmacokinetics of digoxin in pregnancy]

The pharmacokinetics of digoxin were investigated in 8 pregnant women (2-3 months before delivery), in three women 3 months after delivery, and in 3 non-pregnant women, after i.v. injection of 500 microgram. Digoxin was evaluated in serum with the radioimmunoassay method. In pregnant women C1 (concentration of digoxin in the first compartment) and V1 (volume of the first compartment) were higher and C2, K1-2, K2-1 (exchange constants) and Kel (elimination constant) were all lower than the values obtained in both post-partum and non-pregnant women. Our data lead us to think that the exchange (both uptake and release) between the first and second compartment is lowered in pregnancy.