CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH A NEW DIURETIC, TRIAMTERENE, IN CONJESTIVE HEART FAILURE

Triamterene therapy was evaluated in 35 patients with congestive heart failure over a period of two and one-half years. The parameters used were: clinical assessment; daily 24-hour urine sodium, potassium, chloride, and total volume; bi-weekly serum sodium, potassium, chloride, uric acid, and SGOT; hemogram, and BUN.Triamterene is a moderately potent diuretic and natriuretic, with the added desirable property of potassium conservation. It acts synergistically with spironolactone and not only potentiates the effects of hydrochlorothiazide but greatly minimizes its kaluretic effect.It is particularly useful in patients in whom cardiac arrhythmias are associated with digitalis intoxication or with inadvertently induced hypokalemia. Its main therapeutic value, used either alone or in combination with other diuretics, is in the longterm management of chronic edema, especially in certain patients refractory to the currently used diuretics.No significant undesirable side effects were noted.