Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids and prostaglandin synthesis on renal function

The effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (phosphatidylcholine) on renal function in healthy subjects and in patients with chronic renal failure, with liver cirrhosis, and with heart failure were studied. The drug was administered at 3.5 mg/kg i.v. (Linoleic acid 1.24 mg/kg). In all cases, the administration of the drug caused an increased excretion of sodium and especially of water with a reduction in basal urinary hypertonicity. The polyuria was caused by the higher glomerular filtration rate not being counterbalanced by an increase in tubular water reabsorption. The water reabsorption was mostly anisosmotic. The presence of urinary hypertonicity excluded an inhibition of ADH secretion by this drug. The sodium excretion was probably caused by an increase of the glomerular filtration rate whereas no significant changes in the tubular reabsorption of sodium were seen. We found a significant (p 0.05) increase in PGE2 urinary excretion after phosphatidylcholine administration. Lysine - acetylsalicylate injection after phosphatidylcholine, in other trials in the same patients, prevented the effects previously reported. Therefore we suggest that the effects of this drug are mediated by an increased availability of renal prostaglandins.