May 16, 2022
Contributor: Chris Holmes, MD
Educational Pearls:
- Foxglove plant contains the cardiac glycoside digoxin
- Foxglove leaf potions were once used to treat Dropsy; a historic term for symptoms of heart failure
- Digoxin, previously used for treating heart failure, works by increases heart contraction strength and slows heart rate
- Of note, the EKG of patient on digitalis may have a ‘Dali Mustache’ appearance
- Digoxin toxicity can lead to a variety of dysrhythmias as well as neurological, GI, and metabolic effects
- Treatment of digoxin toxicity is digoxin-immune fab, which is an antibody that binds digoxin
References
David MNV, Shetty M. Digoxin. [Updated 2021 Dec 23]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556025/
Cummings ED, Swoboda HD. Digoxin Toxicity. [Updated 2021 Jul 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470568/?report=classic
Summarized by Kirsten Hughes, MS4 | Edited by John Spartz MS4 & Erik Verzemnieks, MD
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