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Serum digoxin concentrations and clinical signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity in the paediatric population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 April 2015

Brady S. Moffett ,
April Garner ,
Troy Zapata ,
Jeffrey Orcutt ,
Mary Niu  and
Keila N. Lopez
Brady S. Moffett*
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
April Garner
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
Troy Zapata
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
Jeffrey Orcutt
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
Mary Niu
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
Keila N. Lopez
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
*
Correspondence to: B. S. Moffett, Department of Pharmacy, Texas Children’s Hospital, 6621 Fannin St., Suite WB1120, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America. Tel: +832 824 6087; Fax: +832 825 5261; E-mail: bsmoffet@texaschildrens.org
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Abstract

Background

Serum digoxin levels have limited utility for determining digoxin toxicity in adults. Paediatric data assessing the utility of monitoring serum digoxin concentration are scarce. We sought to determine whether serum digoxin concentrations are associated with signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity in children.

Methods

We carried out a retrospective review of patients <19 years of age who received digoxin and had serum digoxin concentrations assessed between January, 2007 and June, 2013. Data collection included patient demographics, digoxin indication, serum digoxin concentrations, signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity, electrocardiograms, and co-morbidities. Reviewers performing chart review and electrocardiogram analysis were blinded to digoxin levels. Descriptive statistical methods were used and comparisons were made between patients with and without toxic serum digoxin concentrations (>2 ng/ml).

Results

There were 87 patients who met study criteria (male 46%, mean age 8.4 years). CHD was present in 67.8% and electrocardiograms were performed in 72.4% of the patients. The most common indication for digoxin toxicity was heart failure symptoms (61.5%). Toxic serum digoxin concentrations were present in 6.9% of patients (mean 2.6 ng/ml). Symptoms associated with digoxin toxicity occurred in 48.4%, with nausea/vomiting as the most common symptom (36.4%), followed by tachycardia (29.5%). Compared with those without toxic serum digoxin concentrations, significantly more patients with toxic serum digoxin concentrations were female (p=0.02). The presence of electrocardiogram abnormalities and/or signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity was not significantly different between patients with and without serum digoxin concentrations (p>0.05).

Conclusion

Serum digoxin concentrations in children are not strongly associated with signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity.

Keywords

Digoxinserum concentrationstoxicitypaediatrics
Type
Original Articles
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , March 2016 , pp. 493 - 498
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2015 

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