The gastrointestinal absorption of digoxin in seven patients with gastric or small intestinal reconstructions.

Abstract

Abstract Digoxin‐12α‐3H and polyethylene glycol (PEG, unabsorbable marker) have been given orally to 5 patients (nos. 1–5) with partial gastrectomy, one patient (no. 6) with vagotomy and plastic reconstruction of the pylorus, and one (no. 7) with jejunocolostomy. A slight to moderate steatorrhoea was found in 5 patients (nos. 2–5 and 7). The ratio between the radioactivity/mg PEG in intestinal aspirates and that of the test solution demonstrated that about 55% of the label was absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract of patients 1–5. This value as well as those recorded for blood levels and cumulative excretion of radioactivity in the urine were within the limits previously encountered in healthy control subjects. Although not indicated by the blood levels of label, the absorption of radioactivity appeared to be slightly impaired in patients 6 and 7.