Population pharmacokinetics of oral digoxin in elderly CHF patients

OBJECTIVE To access the population pharmacokinetic parameters and analyze the characteristics of pharmacokinetics of digoxin given by oral route in elderly heart failure patients using a nonlinear mixed effect model program.METHODS A total of 120 blood samples of digoxin which were collected form 84 elderly patients were analyzed by FPIA.Population pharmacokinetic parameters were assessed and the characteristic of the pharmacokinetic profile was analyzed by using NONMEM program.RESULTS The pharmacokinetic profile of digoxin was best described by an open one-compartment model.Weight,dose and serum creatinine were found to covariate significantly effect on pharmacokinetic parameters.The estimated concentrations were well correlated with the measured concentrations in the final model.CONCLUSION The population pharmacokinetic parameters of digoxin administered by oral route in elderly patients could be used in individual dosage of digoxin.