[Influence of the gastric acidity on the digoxinemia. Comparison between digoxin and beta-methyldigoxin (author's transl)].

In a medium term study, carried out according to a random cross-over schema, the Authors have evaluated the influence of gastric acidity on the digoxinemia, after the administration of digoxin (0.375 mg/day) and beta-methyldigoxin (0.25 mg/day) from the same batches. The results confirmed the effect of the gastric acidity on cardiac glycosides and an higher stability of beta-methyldigoxin than digoxin. These data suggest that digoxin, particularly in patients with gastric hypoacidity, must be used cautiously, because we can reach decidedly dangerous haematic levels, with a mean deviation of the values from the normal subjects of 89%, in comparison with 18% in the beta-methyldigoxin treated patients.