A CONCURRENT AUDIT OF HIGH DIGOXIN PLASMA-LEVELS

A concurrent audit was made of 92 patients with plasma or serum digoxi n levels of 3.0 ng/ml or more. Evidence of digoxin toxicity was presen t in 44 of these patients, and premature blood sampling accounted for the high levels in 30 nontoxic patients. Another 14 patients tolerated high digoxin levels without apparent adverse effects. Impaired renal function appeared to increase the risk of digoxin toxicity, even thoug h digoxin levels were similar in patients with and without toxicity. P harmacokinetic predictions based on patient weight and creatinine clea rance often deviated considerably from measured digoxin levels even wh en these were drawn appropriately.