Immunopharmacological activity of monoclonal antidigitoxin
Urtizberea, M.; Latour, M.; Edelman, L.; Carcagne, J.; Armand, J.; Scherrmann, J.M.
Developments in Biological Standardization 71: 147-157
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-5149 PMID: 2401380 Document Number: 367668
A monoclonal antibody specific to digitoxin was developed and Fab fragments were prepared using the conventional papain method. The affinity constant was determined as 10(9)M-1 and the cross reactivity with digoxin was 2%. The Fab fragments were used for the reversal of acute digitoxin poisoning in rabbits (100% mortality). Fab fragments were administered over a 40 or 80 minute period just after digitoxin infusion. Rabbits treated with specific Fab fragments were protected by a bistoichiometrical dose. Evaluation of plasma digitoxin confirmed that the specific Fab fragments were able to extract and sequestrate digitoxin. The digitoxin-Fab fragment complexes were removed by renal excretion. Our data provide evidence of the benefit of monoclonal Fab fragments specific for digitoxin for the reversal of acute digitoxin poisoning.