Abstract
In animal experiments heterologous digoxin-specific F(ab'')2 antibody fragments [from sheep] were effective for the treatment of arrhythmias induced by toxic digoxin doses. They were successfully employed in 3 patients suffering from digoxin poisoning. The study was undertaken to test whether these antibodies are also effective in the treatment of digitoxin poisoning. Ventricular tachycardia, induced in digitalized cats by i.v. digitoxin injections, was fatal in 4 out of 5 controls. Sinus rhythm was reinstated in all the animals treated with digoxin-specific F(ab'')2 after onset of the arrhythmia. Cross-reactivity between the antibodies used and digitoxin, while slight in vitro, is sufficient to justify their clinical use in cases of digitoxin poisoning.