Combined Ascitic-Fluid and Furosemide Infusion in the Management of Ascites

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effect of ascitic-fluid infusion and furosemide administration alone and in combination was studied acutely in eight patients with massive ascites. Ascitic-fluid infusion alone increased glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow and potassium excretion, with no change in urine volume or sodium excretion. Furosemide infusion alone produced no change in glomerular filtration rate or renal plasma flow, but increased urinary volume, sodium and potassium excretion. The effects of combined ascitic-fluid and furosemide infusion were more pronounced, resulting in a rise of 32 to 152 per cent in glomerular filtration rate, and of 33 to 210 per cent in renal plasma flow. This was associated with an increase in urine volume from 0.76 ± 0.4 to 19.2 ± 8.2 ml per minute, in sodium excretion from 8 ± 9 to 1852 ± 876 µEq per minute, and in potassium excretion from 46 ± 23 to 397 ± 148 µEq per minute. Weight loss ranged from 1.8 to 6.8 kg (4 to 15 lb). There was no deterioration in renal function during the week after the infusions.