In my last day as TR, I will end with a final “Name that Poisonous Beast!”.  Farewell, to poisonous beasts everywhere!  In this case, back in the garden.

Name this poisonous beast!

A)

foxglove

And it’s amphibian colleague:

B)

canetoad

  • A) Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
    • Entire plant (seeds, flowers, leaves) contains digitalis (cardiac glycoside); sometimes brewed as teas
  • B) Cane Toad (Bufo marinus)
    • Venom considered an aphrodisiac and a hallucinogen 2/2 bufotenin (serotonin analog); people engage in toad licking for this purpose
    • Unfortunately for toad lickers, the venom also contains bufadienolide (cardiac glycoside)
  • Cardiac Glycosides are also found in oleander, lily of the valley, squill, dogbane, and henbane
    • Mechanism: reversibly inhibits the sodium-potassium-ATPase pump, increasing intracellular sodium and decreasing intracellular potassium
      • Increased cardiocyte sodium increases intracellular calcium, ultimately leading to depolarization
      • Cardiotoxicity: prolongs refractory period in AV node, shortens refractory period in atria and ventricles, decreases resting membrane potential (increased automaticity)
    •  Effects:
      •  CV: palpitations, chest pressure, sob, lightheadedness
        • Multiple dysrhythmias (i.e. sinus bradycardia with block, sinus arrest, atrial tachycardia with block, junctional rhythms, ventricular tachycardia, bidirectional ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation); hypotension
      • Refractory hyperkalemia (magnitude is predictive of outcome)
      • GI: anorexia, n/v/d/abd pain
      • Neurologic: weakness, AMS (disorientation, confusion, lethargy, hallucinations), headache, hypotonia, hyporeflexia, dysarthria, ataxia, horizontal nystagmus, seizures
      • Visual: photophobia, blurred vision, scotomas, decreased visual acuity, color vision aberrations (i.e. yellow halos around lights)
      • Renal: dysfunction more in chronic toxicity
      • Complications: MI, CVA, ATN, death
    • Diagnosis: clinical
      • Can send dig level; however, not all glycosides are measured by this assay and levels do not correlate with severity of illness (and also can not be used to calculate Digibind dose)
    • Treatment: in addition to supportive care,
      • Activated charcoal (ideally within 1 hour)
      • Atropine for clinically significant bradycardia
      • Essential treatment: Digoxin Fab fragment (Digibind)
        • Although not as effective as in Digoxin toxicity (2/2 incomplete cross-reactivity), give if unstable arrhythmias, hyperkalemia, or evidence of end-organ dysfunction
        • Action may take 30-60 minutes
        • Cardiac arrest: give 10-20 vials, prolonged resuscitation may be warranted
        • Hyperkalemia should be corrected by Digibind, other treatments do not reduce mortality and may lead to hypokalemia
      • If no Digibind, can use phenytoin, lidocaine, and/or magnesium for dysrhythmias; pacing and cardioversion may be attempted but could cause rhythm degeneration
        • AVOID: isoproterenol, quinidine, procainamide, calcium (possible “stone heart” – though latest studies show no harm)
      • HD ineffective for toxin removal 2/2 large volume of distribution
March 2024
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