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Effect of digoxin on the sensitivity to flickering light.
Author(s) -
Guignard C,
Toi V,
Burckhardt CW,
Schelling JL
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1983.tb01485.x
Subject(s) - digoxin , flicker , medicine , digitalis , plasma concentration , sensitivity (control systems) , endocrinology , cardiology , chemistry , heart failure , electrical engineering , engineering , electronic engineering
1 The sensitivity to flickering light at various light frequencies (DeLange curve) was determined in 20 controls and 45 patients receiving maintenance doses of digoxin. 2 Flicker thresholds (mean percentage of maximal light modulation +/‐ s.d.; F 30 Hz) were 7.6 +/‐ 1.7 in controls and 9.4 +/‐ 1.7 in patients with optimal plasma digoxin levels (0.5‐1.9 ng/ml), but they rose to 15.5 +/‐ 1.9 at subtoxic levels (2.0‐ 3.0 ng/ml), and to 21.8 +/‐ 2.6 at toxic levels (above 3.0 ng/ml). 3 Flicker sensitivity was inversely correlated with plasma digoxin levels and returned to baseline values when the administration of digoxin was interrupted. 4 The DeLange curve seems to be a valuable tool to measure the toxic effects of digitalis on the visual system.