[Alteration of potassium metabolism by cardiac glycosides in suicidal intoxications (author's transl)].

The potassium concentrations in erythrocytes, serum and urine were continously determined in 3 patients who had taken acetyldigoxin (45 to 100 tablets Novodigal à 0,2 mg) in order to commit suicide. In the first 3 to 8 hours after ingestion of digitalis the potassium concentration in serum increased while the potassium concentration of erythrocytes declined a little. The elimination of potassium with the urine remained still normal. After this period of time the potassium concentration in serum and in erythrocytes considerably fell, simultaneously large amounts of potassium were excreted with the urine. It was not until after 14 days that the potassium metabolism normalized.