Serum digoxin levels in Nigerian patients with cardiac disease: a preliminary study using Elisa technique

Serum digoxin was measured in 48 known cardiac patients by the Elisa method. 59% of patients on maitnenance digoxin (0,25 mg daily) had subtherapeutic serum digoxin concentrations. 3 of 33 patients with subtherapeutic serum digoxin levels had evidence of clinical cardiac failure. Two patients who were digitalised as inpatients showed marked interpersonal variation and at 24 hours had subtherapeutic serum digoxin levels. Dietary factors may play a role in the observed high incidence of subtherapeutic levels thus stressing the need for therapeutic drug monitoring in patients needing digoxin to ensure adequate dosage