ACUTE CHANGES IN RENAL EXCRETION OF WATER AND SOLUTE IN PATIENTS WITH LAENNEC'S CIRRHOSIS, INDUCED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PRESSOR AMINE, METARAMINOL*

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Abstract
Patients with Laennec''s cirrhosis and ascites, and subjects without liver disease were given metaraminol, a synthetic sympathomimetic amine, during a course of sustained water diuresis. In patients with Laennec''s cirrhosis and a normal response to administered water, the infusion of metaraminol resulted in an augmentation of water diuresis and increased excretion of sodium, potassium, and total solute. Most of the patients with cirrhosis and impaired response to water loading developed an increase in water excretion and the rate of solute excretion after administration of the drug. Several patients with cirrhosis and impaired response to water loading exhibited a small response to metaraminol. Subjects without liver disease did not exhibit similar changes. The mechanism of action of metaraminol was uncertain.