Measurement of serum digitoxin in patients by radioimmunoassay using specific antiserum.

Y Ikeda, M Fujii, M Yamazaki, Y Fujii

Index: Clin. Chim. Acta 314(1-2) , 245-7, (2001)

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Abstract

Digitoxin is used to treat patients with heart failure.A radioimmunoassay procedure for the specific determination for digitoxin in serum was developed using the antiserum (antiserum (A)) raised against digitoxin 3'-hemisuccinate-BSA conjugate.The intra- and interassay variability were <10% in the range of 5-100 ng/ml. The specificities of antiserum (A) and the commercial anti-digitoxin antiserum (antiserum (B)) were assessed by cross-reactivity studies with various related compounds. Antiserum (A) was highly specific for digitoxin. Mean digitoxin concentrations in serum samples (n=34) from digitalized patients by RIA using these antisera were 10.0 and 12.4 ng/ml, respectively.This RIA using antiserum (A) measure unmetabolized digitoxin and may be applicable for pharmacokinetic studies.