Diuretic Action of Furosemide

Abstract

RECENTLY Kleinfelder¹reported that furosemide, a new monosulfamylanthranilic acid derivative, produced a prompt diuretic response in patients with edema. Preliminary observations indicated that the diuretic action of furosemide was appreciably different from that of chlorothiazide diuretics and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in terms of chloride excretion, duration of action, and therapeutic efficacy.^2,3 In the present study, changes in renal electrolyte and water excretion caused by furosemide were observed in normal subjects and in patients with chronic congestive heart failure. Experiments were designed to observe the diurnal variations in renal electrolyte and water excretion during furosemide therapy and to compare the diuretic response to furosemide with that produced by chlorothiazide diuretics and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. <h3>Methods</h3> The diuretic action of furosemide was evaluated in three separate studies: (1) in normal subjects, changes in renal electrolyte excretion patterns produced by furosemide were compared with those caused by other sulfamyl drugs; (2) diuretic effects