ABSTRACT
Immunoassays........................................................................................................... 137 8.5 Interference of Herbal and Chinese Medicines in Digoxin Measurement ........................... 140
8.5.1 Chan Su and Lu-Shen-Wan (LSW) .......................................................................... 140 8.5.2 Oleander Containing Herbs and Digoxin Immunoassays ........................................ 141 8.5.3 Effects of Siberian Ginseng, Asian Ginseng and Ashwagandha on Digoxin
Immunoassays........................................................................................................... 143 8.5.4 DanShen and Digoxin Immunoassays ...................................................................... 143 8.5.5 Uzara Roots and Digoxin Immunoassays ................................................................. 144 8.5.6 Herbal Cleansing Agent and Digoxin Immunoassay................................................ 144
8.6 Endogenous Digoxin-Like Immunoreactive Substances (DLIS) and Digoxin Immunoassays....................................................................................................................... 145 8.6.1 Digoxin-like Immunoreactive Substances (DLIS) Concentrations: Healthy
Individuals versus Disease ........................................................................................ 145 8.6.1.1 Healthy Individuals .................................................................................... 145 8.6.1.2 Volume Expanded Patients ........................................................................ 145
8.6.2 Positive and Negative Interference of DLIS in Serum Digoxin Measurement: Impact on Monitoring of Digoxin ............................................................................. 146
8.6.3 Elimination of DLIS Interference in Digoxin Immunoassay by Ultrafiltration ....... 147 8.7 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................... 147 References ...................................................................................................................................... 147
Digoxin, a cardiac glycoside is an important drug found in foxglove plant (Digitalis lantana). Medicinal properties of cardiac glycosides were recorded in history as early as 1000 BC. Digoxin is widely used in clinical practice to treat various heart conditions including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and heart failure. Digoxin is the most commonly used drug for treatment of congestive heart failure in pediatric patients [1]. Digoxin is also used in treating adult patients with heart failure [2].
