Abstract
A significant serum level of digoxin-like immunoreactive substance (DLIS) (≥0.5 ng/ml) has been found in healthy full-term neonates, in prematurely born neonates as well as in full-term but small for gestational age neonates. Neither the babies nor their mothers had received digoxin therapy. On the first day of life, the incidence of serum levels of DLIS≥0.5 ng/ml in the three groups of neonates were respectively 64% (32/50), 42% (8/19) and 77% (10/13). Longitudinal measurements in preterm and small for gestational age neonates indicate a progressive disappearance of DLIS from their serum, none of them having a significant serum level at 21 days of age. As long as the chemical structure, origin and physiological properties of DLIS remain unknown, clinicians must be cautious in interpreting the serum levels of digoxin used for therapeutical purpose in neonates.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- DLIS:
-
digoxin-like immunoreactive substance
- SGA:
-
small for gestational age
- RIA:
-
radioimmunoassay
References
Beyers AD, Odendaal HJ, Spruyt LL, Parkin DP (1984) The possible role of endogenous digitalis-like substance in the causation of pre-eclampsia. S Afr Med J 65:883–885
Beyers AD, Spruyt LL, Seifart HI, Kriegler A, Parkin DP, Van Jaarsveld PP (1984) Endogenous immunoreactive digitalis-like substance in neonatal serum and placental extracts. S Afr Med J 65:878–882
Ebara H, Suzuki S, Nagashima K, Koizumi T, Nishida A, Kambe Y, Kuroume T (1986) Digoxin — and digitoxin-like immunoreactive substances in amniotic fluid, cord blood, and serum of neonates. Pediatr Res 20:28–31
Graves SW, Brown B, Valdes R (1983) An endogenous digoxin-like substance in patients with renal impairment. Ann Intern Med 99:604–608
Graves SM, Valdes R, Brown BA Jr, Knight AB, Craig HR (1984) Endogenous digoxin immunoreactive substance in human pregnancies. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 58:748–751
Kleigmuller D, Weiler E, Kramer HJ (1982) Digoxin-like natriuretic activity in the urine of salt-loaded healthy subjects. Klin Wochenschr 60:1249–1251
Lubchenco LO, Hansman C, Boyd E (1966) Intrauterine growth in length and headcircumference as estimated from live births at gestational ages from 26 to 42 weeks. Pediatrics 37:403–408
Pudek MR, Seccombe DW, Whitfield MF (1983) Digoxin like immunoreactivity in premature and full-term infants not receiving digoxin therapy. N Engl J Med 308:904–905
Pudek MR, Seccombe DW, Jacobson BE, Whitfield MF (1983) Seven different digoxin immunoassay kits compared with respect to intereference by a digoxin-like immunoreactive substance in serum from premature and full-term infants. Clin Chem 29 (11): 1972–1974
Valdes R (1985) Endogenous digoxine-like immunoreactive factors: impact on digoxin measurement and potential physiological implications. Clin Chem 31 (9):1525–1532
Valdes R, Graves SW, Brown BA, Landt M (1983) Endogenous substances in newborn infants causing false positive digoxin measurements. J Pediatr 102:947–950
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bertrand, J.M., Langhendries, J.P., Gras, A. et al. Digoxin-like immunoreactive substance in serum of preterm and full-term neonates. Eur J Pediatr 146, 145–146 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02343220
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02343220