Acute effects of high-dose furosemide on residual renal function in CAPD patients

High doses of furosemide can increase urine volume in chronic peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. However, no information is available about effects on urinary solute excretion in relation to residual glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urinary furosemide excretion, and peritoneal solute kinetics.

Diuretic response and the effect on peritoneal fluid and solute transport parameters were investigated in 7 stable CAPD patients with residual renal function (median urine volume 350 mL/24 hours, range 140- 1900 mL/24 hours). Comparisons were made during two clearance periods of 24 hours: one without (P1) and one during 2 g furosemide (P2).

The median increase in urine volume was 400 mL (range 270 - 910 mL, p < 0.02) and the increase in sodium excretion was 54 mmol (range 25 - 118 mmol, p < 0.02). No change in GFR was found between P1 (2.4 mL/ minute, range 0.6 - 5.7 mL/min) and P2 (2.0 mL/min, range 1.0 - 4.8 mL/min). An increase in fractional clearance was found for volume, sodium, potassium, and osmolality (p < 0.02). No change was found in the fractional clearance of urea and electrolyte-free water. Furosemide excretion in urine was 8.7 mg/24 hours (range 2.1 - 38 mg/24 hours) and in dialysate 4.9 mg/24 hours (range 1.9 - 7.8 mg/ 24 hours). Plasma furosemide concentration was 29.5 mg/L (range 6.2 - 43.9 mg/L). A positive correlation was found between residual GFR and total urine furosemide excretion (r = 0.93, p < 0.005). Efficiency, expressed as the increase in fractional sodium clearance (percent) per milligram of furosemide excreted per 24 hours, was 1.2%/mg (range 0.3% - 11.3%/mg).

High-dose furosemide is effective in CAPD patients in increasing urine volume and electrolyte excretion without affecting urea and creatinine clearance. In CAPD patients, the individual response to an identical high dose of furosemide is dependent on the magnitude of residual GFR.