TY  - JOUR
T1  - TReatment for digitalis intoxication
AU  - Frank S
Y1  - 1979/08/01
N1  - 10.1001/archinte.1979.03630450086033
JO  - Archives of Internal Medicine
SP  - 944
EP  - 944
VL  - 139
IS  - 8
N2  - To the Editor.— 
    The recent article by Rotmensch et al in the Archives (138:1495-1497, 1978) suggests that forced diuresis with furosemide may be an effective treatment for digitalis intoxication. This aggressive approach is not without possible additional hazard, particularly in patients with low serum potassium levels. Many patients taking large doses of digoxin, and specifically the frequent patient who is receiving a diuretic or is hypokalemic for any reason, may be placed in great jeopardy by extreme diuresis without careful attention to the serum potassium level.Digitalis has been shown to inhibit the sodium-potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase of the cell membrane, which could impair the ability of the cell to maintain the normally high ratio of intracellular to extracellular potassium concentration. The resultant hyperkalemia may be improved by forced diuresis with large doses of furosemide, and in this group of patients this method may be of some value.Most patients with
SN  - 0003-9926
M3  - doi: 10.1001/archinte.1979.03630450086033
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1979.03630450086033
ER  -