Summary
The absorption of digoxin has been studied in fasting patients undergoing transumbilical, portal catheterization for diagnostic purposes. A purely aqueous solution was administered orally in 4 patients and in the sigmoid colon in 2 patients. Blood samples were taken simultaneously from the portal and a peripheral vein. Plasma digoxin concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Digoxin appeared early in the blood after oral administration; the average peak of porto-peripheral concentration differences was at 18 min. After intrasigmoid administration, absorption was slower, and no distinct peaks were found. Calculation of the mean amounts absorbed showed that half the dose had been absorbed via the portal vein during 2 hours in the oral study and during 6 hours in the intrasigmoid test. Approximately 2/3 of the dose had been absorbed during 6 hours after oral dosing. The absorption rate was estimated taking into account the decreasing amount of drug left to be absorbed at different times. After oral administration, the mean peak rate was found to correspond to an absorption half-time of 0.78 h, which was more than 20 times faster than the rate after 6 h. The mean peak rate after intrasigmoid administration appeared to be about 1/3 of that after oral dosing. Physiological factors that might account for these differences in absorption rate are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beermann, B., Hellström, K., Rosén, A.: The absorption of orally administered 12 α-3H digoxin in man. Clin. Sci.43, 507–518 (1972a).
Beermann, B., Hellström, K., Rosén, A., Werner, B.: Elimination of orally administered digoxin and digitoxin by thoracic duct drainage in man. Europ. J. clin. Pharmacol.5, 19–21 (1972b)
Bell, G.H., Davidson, J.N., Scarborough, H.: Textbook of physiology and biochemistry, 6th ed., Edinburgh and London: E. and S. Living-stone, Chapter 18, p. 290, 1965
Bertler, A., Medin, S., Nyberg, L., Redfors, A.: Bioavailability of digoxin. Lancet1972 II, 708
Blankart, R., Preisig, R.: Pharmakokinetische Grundlagen der Digitalisdosierung: eine Studie an Probanden. Schweiz. med. Wschr.100, 2163–2164 (1970)
Caldwell, J.H., Martin, J.F., Dutta, S., Greenberger, N.J.: Intestinal absorption of digoxin-3H in the rat. Amer. J. Physiol.217, 1747–1751 (1969)
Dengler, H.J., Dodem, G., Wirth, K.: Pharmakokinetische Untersuchungen mit H3-Digoxin und H3-Lanatosid beim Menschen. Arzneimittel-Forsch.23, 64–74 (1973)
Doherty, J.E.: The clinical pharmacology of digitalis glycosides: A review. Amer. J. med. Sci.255, 382–414 (1968)
Doherty, J.E., Perkins, W.H., Mitchell, G.K.: Tritiated digoxin studies in human subjects. Arch. intern. Med.108, 531–539 (1961)
Fisher, R.B., Parsons, D.S.: The gradient of mucosal surface in the small intestine of the rat. J. Anat. (Lond.)84, 272–282 (1950)
Forth, W., Furukawa, E., Rummel, W., Andres, H.: Die Bestimmung der intestinalen Resorption von Herzglykosiden durch Messung der3H-markierten Glykoside im Portalvenenblut und in der Darmlymphe bei Katzen. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmak.264, 406–419 (1969)
Gold, H., Cattell, Mc K, Greiner, T., Hanlon, L.W., Kwit, N.T., Modell, W., Cotlove, E., Benton, J., Otto, H.L.: Clinical pharmacology of digoxin. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.109, 45–57 (1953)
Greenberger, N.J., Mac Dermott, R.P., Martin, J.F., Dutta, S.: Intestinal absorption of six tritium-labeled digitalis glycosides in rats and guinea pigs. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.167, 265–273 (1969)
Haass, A., Lüllman, H., Peters, T.: Absorption rates of some cardiac glycosides and portal blood flow. Europ. J. Pharmacol.19, 366–370 (1972)
Hall, W.H., Doherty, J.E.: Tritiated digoxin. XVI. Gastric absorption. Amer. J. Dig. Dis.16, 903–908 (1971)
Nyberg, L., Bratt, L., Forsgren, A., Hugosson, S.: Bioavailability of digoxin from tablets. I.In vitro characterization of digoxin tablets. Acta pharm. suecia11, 447–458 (1974a)
Nyberg, L., Andersson, K.-E., Bertler, A.: Bioavailability of digoxin from tablets. II. Radioimmunoassay and disposition pharmacokinetics of digoxin after intravenous administration. Acta pharm. suecica11, 459–470 (1974b)
Nyberg, L., Andersson, K.-E., Bertler, A.: Bioavailability of digoxin from tablets. III. Availability of digoxin in man from preparations with different dissolution rate. Acta pharm. suecica11, 471–492 (1974c)
Oliver, G.C., Cooksey, J., Witte, C., Witte, M.: Absorption and transport of digitoxin in the dog. Circulat. Res.29, 419–423 (1971)
Rietbrock, N., Abshagen, U., von Bergmann, K., Kewitz, H.: Pharmacokinetics of digoxin and its 4‴-acetyl- and methylderivatives in the rat. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol.274, 171–181 (1972)
Steiness, E., Rasmussen, F., Svendsen, O., Johansen, H.: Administrationsformer for digoksin. Ugeskr. Laeg.136, 635–638 (1974)
Weissler, A.M., Snyder, J.R., Schoenfield, C.D., Cohen, S.: Assay of digitalis glycosides in man. Amer. J. Cardiol..17, 768–778 (1966)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Andersson, K.E., Nyberg, L., Dencker, H. et al. Absorption of digoxin in man after oral and intrasigmoid administration studied by portal vein catheterization. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 9, 39–47 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00613427
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00613427