Objective: An endogenous digitalis-like factor (EDLF) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia (PE). This hypothesis is supported by two cases of preeclampsia in which administration of digoxin immune Fab (DIF) reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP).
Study design: To study this observation further, we performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial to examine the effects on MAP of intravenous DIF given after delivery in 26 subjects with severe preeclampsia. Treating obstetricians were blinded to subject assignment and were allowed to use standard antihypertensive drugs during the trial.
Results: The primary outcome, a significant difference in blood pressure between the two groups over the 24-h period of observation after the intervention, was not supported. However, mean MAP was significantly lower in the DIF-treated subjects for the first 4 h after therapy as compared with controls (P=0.05). Six subjects (46.2%) in the placebo arm were given conventional antihypertensive medications by their obstetrician for blood pressure >160 mm Hg systolic or >110 mm Hg diastolic, compared with zero subjects in the treatment arm (P=0.01). A trend towards increased creatinine clearance was observed in DIF-treated subjects (137.6+/-42.6 versus 104.1+/-43.4, P=0.07).
Conclusion: These results support the hypothesis that EDLF contributes to the elevated blood pressure in preeclampsia and suggests a possible role for DIF as a treatment for this condition.