Fab Fragments in Treatment of Digoxin Ingestion

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-137
Author(s):  
THOMAS W. SMITH

To the Editor.— Accompanying the paper of Zucker et al in the September issue of Pediatrics1 is a listing of sources from which digoxin-specific Fab fragments are stated to be available. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. All of the individuals and institutions listed have been part of a multicenter trial of clinical safety and efficacy of purified digoxin-specific Fab fragments in the treatment of advanced, life-threatening digitalis toxicity. At the present time, however, supplies of the material are extremely limited, and several of the centers listed have exhausted their supplies of digoxin-specific Fab fragments.

Author(s):  
Frédéric Lapostolle ◽  
Stephen W. Borron

Despite a gradual decline in the clinical use of digitalis glycosides, digitalis toxicity continues to be responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly among the elderly. Digitalis poisoning may occur acutely, after intentional overdose, but is more often seen as the result of chronic intoxication among patients receiving digitalis therapy. Clinical findings in chronic digitalis poisoning are often subtle. The astute clinician will enquire about digitalis use in older patients with vague complaints and will not be dissuaded from considering digitalis toxicity in the face of a ‘therapeutic’ digitalis blood concentration. Two digitalis preparations continue to be used with frequency, depending on geography. Digoxin is the digitalis glycoside of choice in the USA, while digitoxin prevails in some parts of Europe. While the methods and half-lives of elimination differ markedly for these two substances, the approach to poisoning by either is similar. Advanced age, underlying cardiovascular disease, and severe hyperkalaemia represent poor prognostic factors in digitalis poisoning. Early administration of digitalis Fab fragments should be undertaken when life-threatening symptoms are present. Prophylactic therapy with reduced doses of Fab fragments should be strongly considered for less serious toxicity.


2011 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. CMBD.S5118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Saugel ◽  
Roland M. Schmid ◽  
Wolfgang Huber

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a life-threatening adverse reaction to heparin therapy that is characterized by thrombocytopenia and an increased risk of venous and arterial thrombosis. According to guidelines, in patients with strongly suspected or confirmed HIT all sources of heparin have to be discontinued and an alternative, nonheparin anticoagulant for HIT treatment must immediately be started. For both the prophylaxis of thrombembolic events in HIT and the treatment of HIT with thrombosis the direct thrombin inhibitor argatroban is approved in the United States. The objective of this review is to describe the mechanism of action and the pharmacokinetic profile of argatroban, to characterize argatroban regarding its safety and therapeutic efficacy and to discuss its place in therapy in HIT.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 605-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke-Jia Lv ◽  
Tian-Chi Chen ◽  
Guo-Hua Wang ◽  
Ya-Nan Yao ◽  
Hua Yao

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. A38-A38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret B. Rennels ◽  
Roger I. Glass ◽  
Penelope H. Dennehy ◽  
David I. Bernstein ◽  
Michael E. Pichichero ◽  
...  

In the January 1996 article titled "Safety and Efficacy of High-dose Rhesus Human Reassortant Rotavirus Vaccines—Report of the National Multicenter Trial" (Rennels et al. Pediatrics, 1996:97:7-13), the Acknowledgments section on page 12 included an incorrect location for one member of the United States Rotavirus Vaccine Efficacy Group, and another member was inadvertently omitted. The correct list should include: Stephen Fries, MD, Boulder Medical Center, Boulder, CO; and Hervey Froehlich, MD, Kaiser Permanente Medical Office, Fresno, CA.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Liu ◽  
Wenbin Li ◽  
Jianping Zeng ◽  
He Huang ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundLeft bundle branch area pacing (LBBaP) has recently emerged as alternative a new physiologic strategy of pacing to His-bundle pacing (HBP) associated with difficulty of lead implantation, His bundle damage, high and unstable thresholds.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to compare clinical safety and efficacy of LBBaP with right ventricular sepal pacing (RVSP).MethodsFrom February 2019 to May 2020, consecutive pacing-indicated patients were prospectively enrolled and divided into two groups. Ventricular synchrony index such as QRS duration (QRSd), interventricular mechanical delay (IVMD) and septal-posterior wall motion delay (SPWMD), left ventricular function such as left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), pacing parameters, and complications were evaluated in perioperative period and during follow-up.ResultsLBBaP was successful in 45 patients (88.2%), and finally 46 patients underwent RVSP. With LBBaP, the ventricular electrical- mechanical synchrony were similar with the native-conduction system (P = .784). However, the ventricular electrical synchrony (QRSd, 108.47 ± 7.64 vs 130.63 ± 13.63 ms, P < .0001) and mechanical synchrony (IVMD, 27.68 ± 4.33 vs 39.88 ± 5.83, P < .0001; SPWMD, 40.39 ± 23.21 vs 96.36 ± 11.55, P < .0001) in the LBBaP group were significantly superior to the RVSP group. No significant differences in LVEDD (46 [44-48.5] vs 47 [44–52] mm, P = .488) and LVEF% (66 [62.5–70] vs 64 [61–68], P = .759) were noted in both two groups at last follow-up. But, in the subgroup analysis, LVEDD was shorter (46 [44–49] vs 50 [47–58] mm, P = .032) and the LVEF% was higher (65 [62–68] vs 63 [58–65], P = .022) in the LBBaP-H (high ventricular pacing ratio > 40%) group compared with RVSP-H group at last follow-up. There was lower capture thresholds (0.59 ± 0.18V vs. 0.71 ± 0.26V, P = 0.011) at implantation in the LBBaP group than RVSP group, and R-wave amplitudes and pacing impedances did not differ between the two groups. No serious complications were found in both two groups at implantation and follow-ups.ConclusionThis study confirms the clinical safety and efficacy of LBBaP, and that produces better ventricular electrical-mechanical synchrony than RVSP. The event of pacing-induced left ventricular dysfunction is lower in the LBBaP-H group than RVSP-H group.Trial registrationTrial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100046901, Registered 30 May 2021—Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/searchproj.aspx?regstatus=1008001.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 468-471
Author(s):  
Aaron R. Zucker ◽  
Samuel J. Lacina ◽  
D. S. DasGupta ◽  
H. A. Fozzard ◽  
David Mehlman ◽  
...  

Digitalis poisoning is a rare problem in children, but it may be life threatening. A case of massive overdose of digoxin in a 2½-year-old boy that produced prolonged ventricular fibrillation refractory to conventional therapy is reported. After two hours the boy was given digoxin-specific Fab fragments of antibody in sufficient quantity to bind his estimated dose of 10 mg. By completion of the treatment minutes later, normal rhythm and circulation were restored. The serum free digoxin level before antibody administration was &gt; 100 ng/ml, and it rapidly fell to undetectable levels after antibody was given. Digoxin bound to the antibody had a clearance half-life of approximately 48 hours. The child had no apparent neurologic damage and his intellectual function was normal on discharge. He had a transient hematuria and a residual incomplete right bundle branch block. Administration of purified Fab fragments of digoxin-specific antibodies can be life saving in children with digitalis poisoning, and prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation in children is justified when the cause of cardiac arrest is potentially reversible.


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