Hemoperfusion in the management of digoxin toxicity

J. W. Smiley, N. M. March and E. T. Del Guercio

Resin hemoperfusion was used in a long-term dialysis patient who inadvertently ingested a quadruple dose of digoxin for five days. Severe gastrointestinal symptoms improved, and impressive plasma digoxin clearances were observed. Cellulose-coated activated charcoal was used in another patient who had ingested a massive dose of digoxin. Gastrointestinal and CNS symptoms improved, and second-degree heart block with life-threatening bradycardia cleared during hemoperfusion. Digoxin toxicity may be added to the list of conditions that can be treated by this method.