Potassium sparing effect of amiloride in patients receiving diuretics: a quantitative study

This study was undertaken in order to assess the K+ sparing ability of amiloride. Thirty patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites or congestive heart failure were divided into three groups and treated with amiloride (Group A), hydrochlorothiazide (Group B) and amiloride plus hydrochlorothiazide (Group C) for 15 days. In all groups there was an increased diuresis while only in group A and C there was a statistically significant rise of K+ serum levels and a slight increment of K+ urinary loss. Total body K+ evaluated by 42K increased in group A and C while decreased in group B. Our results seem to confirm that amiloride has a mild diuretic action with a powerful K+ sparing capacity; amiloride is also able to counterbalance and reverse hydrochlorthiazide induced K+ urinary loss.