The role of flavonoids in false positive digoxin assays caused by the consumption of hibiscus flower and rose hip tea

The serum digoxin level of two of our chronic heart failure patients who were not taking digoxin was accidentally measured and was reported as 0.21 and 0.22ng/ml. These patients were not taking medications that may interfere with digoxin assays. (The medications of Patient 1 included metoprolol, perindopril and acenocoumarol while Patient 2 received bisoprolol, perindopril, indapamide, allopurinol, doxazosin, potassium chloride and acenocoumarol). Neither of these patients had signs or symptoms of cardiac decompensation and both were female. They reported to have consumed the same fruit tea on a daily basis (Pickwick Fruit Amour Gyümölcstea Variációk II, Sara Lee International) (filter tea: 2g/filter). This tea was a collection of different tea mixtures whose common ingredients were hibiscus flower and rose hip.
Source: International Journal of Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research