Suppression of renal excretion of digoxin in hypokalemic patients

Abstract

Inulin and digoxin clearances were simultaneously measured in 19 normokalemic and 4 hypokalemic patients. In normokalemia the renal digoxin clearance exceeded the inulin clearance, indicating both glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion of digoxin. The tubular secretion increased with increasing plasma digoxin concentration. In hypokalemia, however, the tubular secretion of digoxin was significantly reduced but increased after the plasma potassium level was raised to normal.