Tritiated digoxin: XVII. Excretion and turnover times in normal donors before and after nephrectomy and in the paired recipient of the kidney after transplantation

Abstract

Twenty-one tritiated digoxin turnover studies were performed in 14 subjects: 2 studies each in 7 donors, before and after unilateral nephrectomy; 1 study each in 7 recipients of the kidney after transplantation. All donors and recipients were closely related. Digoxin excretion and metabolic turnover were not significantly impaired after nephrectomy in normal donors, and combined ability of paired kidneys in different subjects was superior to the original functional excretory capacity of donors. Rejection was not a problem at the time of these studies. All recipients were receiving immunosuppressive therapy.Further evidence is provided that the renal functional capacity as determined by creatinine clearance or blood urea nitrogen is of assistance in estimating digoxin dosage in the usual patient with congestive heart failure as well as the patient with impaired renal digoxin excretion.