Studies with Tritiated Digoxin in Anephric Human Subjects

Abstract

Tritiated digoxin was given to 11 patients when anephric prior to renal transplant. These patients exhibited high digoxin serum levels, increased digoxin serum half-times, and reduced excretion of digoxin compared to those of patients with congestive heart failure and normal BUN and are similar in this respect to patients with severe compromise of renal function. The stool excretion of digoxin is increased in anephric patients, but this does not compensate for the lack of renal excretion of digoxin. These findings indicate the need for prudent administration of digoxin to anephric patients, as well as those with renal failure. Often the dose of digoxin may be reduced as much as one third to one half of the usual maintenance dose.