Digoxin is a digitalis glycoside that exerts a positive inotropic effect that subsequently increases the contractile response of the myocardial fibers in patients experiencing congestive heart failure. Cardiac glycosides also can produce several electrophysiologic effects that produce negative chronotropic effects on the human heart. These effects tend to slow down and regulate a rapid, irregular beat like that found in patients experiencing cardiac arrhythmias. Estimation of digoxin levels may be useful when establishing a dosage for new patients, monitoring compliance or assessing for toxicity.
A number of digoxin related compounds, including Acetyldigoxin, Digoxigenin bis-digitoxose, Digoxigenin mono-digitoxose, Methyldigoxin show cross-reactivity with the assay.
Target values 0.5-1.0 ug/L Concentrations above 2 ug/L are associated with symptoms of toxicity. Digoxin toxicity is exacerbated if the patient is hypokalaemic.
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