Microencapsulated charcoal hemoperfusion: a possible therapeutic adjunct in digoxin toxicity.

Attempts to remove substantial quantities of digoxin by either peritoneal or hemodialysis, have been unsuccessful due to their low clearance rate. The present study determined the in-vivo clearance rate for digoxin of a single microcapsule of 300 gm of activated charcoal. The clearance rate was 55 +/- 5 ml/min (mean +/- SEM) in the first hour and 48.4 +/- 4 ml/min in the second; these values are approximately five-fold higher than with other dialysis techniques. No evidence of a post-dialysis rebound increase in serum digoxin levels was found, implying that peripheral tissues can rapidly release digoxin to the diminishing serum pool. Preliminary data obtained suggest a beneficial effect on arrhythmias and lowering of the myocardial to serum rate of digoxin after hemoperfusion.