European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Vol 2, 380-381, Copyright © 1988 by European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
Endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactive substance in patients undergoing coronary surgery. Preliminary report
SA Nashef, AJ Kirk, N Brewster, I Louden, IW Percy-Robb and WH Bain
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland.
Perioperative digoxin concentrations were measured in 20 unselected adult
patients undergoing coronary surgery. None of the patients were receiving
treatment with digoxin. A digoxin-like immunoreactive substance was found
in 16 patients postoperatively. This substance, if pharmacologically
active, may have important clinical implications in the management of
patients after open heart surgery.