THE USE OF COLOR-VISION MEASUREMENT IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF DIGOXIN TOXICITY

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 49  (195) , 273-282
Abstract
Color vision was measured, using the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue test, in control subjects and in patients taking digoxin. In 10 patients with digitalis toxicity, of whom only 2 described symptomatic abnormalities, color vision was impaired compared with that of both control subjects and non-toxic patients who had been taking digoxin for more than 2 mo. Withdrawal of digoxin from toxic patients led to improved color vision. Color vision scores correlated well with log plasma digoxin concentrations, and various measures of the pharmacodynamic effects of cardiac glycosides on cation transport in the patients'' own erythrocytes. Color vision assessment may be of use in screening for digitalis toxicity at the bedside and in assessing the degree of digitalis intoxication in an individual patient as an aid to clinical research.