What potential side effect is heightened in patients taking Digoxin due to renal impairment?

In patients taking Digoxin, renal impairment can lead to heightened cardiac toxicity. Digoxin is primarily eliminated from the body by the kidneys, so when renal function is compromised, the clearance of Digoxin is reduced, leading to increased serum levels of the drug. Elevated levels can result in various cardiac side effects, as Digoxin exerts its effects on the cardiac muscle by increasing the force of contraction and influencing heart rate.

This increased serum concentration can lead to toxicity characterized by symptoms such as arrhythmias, bradycardia, and other serious cardiovascular issues. Therefore, it is crucial for healthcare providers to monitor renal function and adjust Digoxin dosages accordingly in patients who are at risk for renal impairment.

While other options like dehydration, hypokalemia, and gastrointestinal disturbances can occur with Digoxin therapy, they are not as directly and immediately associated with the increased risk in the context of renal impairment as cardiac toxicity is. Cardiac monitoring is essential in these patients to prevent significant morbidity associated with toxic digoxin levels.