Effect of fenoldopam in dogs with spontaneous renal insufficiency

Fenoldopam administration orally or i.v. resulted in significant increases in paraaminohippuric acid (PAH) clearance in both four control dogs and four dogs with chronic renal failure. Oral fenoldopam resulted in significant plasma levels of fenoldopam sulfate metabolites. One metabolite, fenoldopam-8-sulfate, a potential inhibitor of organic anion transport, did not depress renal cortical slice accumulation of PAH. The data therefore indicate that in dogs with chronic renal failure, PAH clearance after fenoldopam administration is a reliable measure of renal plasma flow, and fenoldopam can result in an increase in renal plasma flow.