[Dangerous Overdose: Myocardial Injury from Digitoxin Intoxication].

Authors

Olivia Tausendfreund, John Michael Hoppe, Markus Wörnle

Published in

Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946). Volume 151. Issue 14. Pages 768-772. Epub Jul 13, 2026.

Abstract

An 82-year-old woman was brought to the emergency department by ambulance due to nausea, general weakness, and increasing confusion. Two days earlier, she had ingested 60 tablets of digitoxin (each containing 0.07 mg) in a suicide attempt.
The ECG showed a normofrequent sinus rhythm, a first-degree AV block, and ST-segment scooping in leads II, aVF, and V2-V6. The digitoxin level was above the detection threshold. Troponin levels were elevated.
Digitoxin intoxication with myocardial damage following a suicide attempt.
Due to the potentially life-threatening condition, the patient was treated with digitalis antitoxin (DigiFab). Under intensive care monitoring, her clinical condition improved rapidly. The digitoxin levels decreased slowly. She was discharged after 8 days.
Digitoxin intoxication can lead to significant myocardial damage. Risk assessment, therapy, and evaluation of therapeutic response should be conducted promptly and always based on the clinical presentation.

PMID:
42442727
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 14 Jul 2026.

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