Abnormal glomerular and tubular response to intravenous frusemide in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis

Fourteen normotensive patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and well-preserved renal function and thirteen healthy control subjects were studied. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), proximal and distal absolute and fractional tubular reabsorption (PAR, PFR, DARNa, DFRNa), evaluated by the lithium clearance technique, were determined before and in four 30-60-min periods after intravenous injection of frusemide 0.5 mg/kg body weight (Study 1) and 1.0 mg/kg body weight (Study 2). Plasma concentrations of angiotensin II (Ang II), aldosterone (Aldo), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and arginine vasopressine (AVP) were measured before, and 60 and 180 min after frusemide. GFR decreased and UNa and FENa increased significantly in patients and controls after frusemide in both studies, but in study 2 GFR decreased significantly more in patients than in controls, and UNa and FENa increased significantly less above baseline in patients compared to controls. PAR, PFR, DARNa, and DFRNa were reduced in patients and controls in both studies. In study 2 the reduction in PAR was significantly (P less than 0.05) less pronounced in patients (23%) than in controls (43%), whereas DARNa was reduced significantly more (P less than 0.05) in patients (36%) than in controls (21%). The efficiency of frusemide with regard to renal sodium excretion was significantly reduced in patients compared to controls in both studies. Angiotensin II and aldosterone increased, ANP decreased, and AVP was unchanged in patients and controls in both studies. It is concluded that in comparison to control subjects, patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and well-preserved GFR respond to frusemide with an exaggerated reduction in GFR, a lesser decrease in absolute proximal tubular reabsorption, and a larger reduction in absolute distal tubular reabsorption. Thus, primary glomerular disease with well-preserved glomerular function may be accompanied by a distinctly disturbed tubular function.