QUINIDINE ENHANCES DIGITALIS TOXICITY AT THERAPEUTIC SERUM DIGOXIN LEVELS

Objective: To determine the effect of the digoxin-quinidine interactio n on rate of in-hospital digitalis toxicity. Methods: This was a prosp ective observational study over 9 months, set in two general medical w ards. We studied consecutive patients (n = 141) who were receiving dig oxin. Measurements included digitalis toxicity, defined by ECG criteri a and resolution after stopping digoxin; all additional medications (i ncluding antiarrhythmics) continued. The observer was ''blinded'' to s erum digoxin level and to concomitant drugs. Results: Digitalis toxici ty rates were as follows: digoxin alone, 4.90/o (5 of 101 patients); w ith amiodarone or verapamil, 5.0% (I of 20 patients); with quinidine, 50% (10 of 20 patients) (p < 0.01). No toxicity was seen at digoxin le vels < 1.0 ng/ml. Toxicity at 1.0 to 2.0 ng/ml was as follows: digoxin alone, 1 of 41 patients; with quinidine, 4 of 15 patients (p = 0.014) . Toxicity was similar at levels >2.0 ng/ml: 4 of 8 patients and 7 of 11 patients, respectively. Independent relative risks and 95% confiden ce intervals (CI) of digitalis toxicity were as follows: serum digoxin , 9.1 (95% CI. 2.9 to 13.0); concurrent quinidine, 24.3 (95% CI, 3.4 t o 124). There was a significant (p < 0.01) interaction between concurr ent quinidine, serum digoxin of 1.0 to 2.0 ng/ml, and digitalis toxici ty. Conclusion: The digoxin-quinidine interaction significantly increa ses digitalis toxicity, even in the therapeutic range of serum digoxin levels.