Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of digoxin‐ and β‐methyl‐digoxin‐12α‐3H in patients with acute hepatitis

Abstract

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of digoxin and β-methyldigoxin have been studied in patients with acute hepatitis after intravenous administration of both ³H-labeled glycosides. In contrast to digoxin, the rate of decline of radioactivity after administration of β-methyldigoxin was significantly retarded in patients with acute hepatitis. The increase in plasma concentration after β-methyldigoxin to patients with acute hepatitis is probably related to decreased demethylation.