Effect of antidigoxin monoclonal antibodies on cardiac disturbances caused by high concentrations of digoxin

Effect of high-affinity mouse monoclonal antidigoxin antibodies D22 on digoxin-induced cardiac disturbances is studied in guinea pigs injected with 0.5 mg/kg digoxin. Five minutes after digoxin injection, bradycardia, isolated extrasystoles, conduction disturbances, and changes in the ST segment and QRS complex appear; digoxin concentration attains 0.2-0.4 mu g/ml. Antidigoxin monoclonal antibodies injected 10 min after digoxin slightly reduce heart rate, prevent isolated extrasystoles, improve atrioventricular conduction, and normalize the amplitude of the ST segment and the shape of the QRS complex. Serum digoxin concentration decreases to 0.015-0.03 mu g/ml. These data suggest that monoclonal antidigoxin antibodies can be effectively used in acute digoxin intoxication.