[Function test of renal excretion of water and sodium after water loading in liver cirrhosis]

Water loading was used as a diagnostic test in the study of renal excretion of water and sodium during the clinical stages of cirrhosis of the liver in 25 patients free from clinical and instrumental signs of ascites, 26 with treatable ascites, and 14 with intractable ascites. The water load consisted of 20 cc/kg water administered i.v. as a 5% glucose solution. Examination of diuresis in the ensuring 5 hr showed that: 1) clearance of free water is the most sensitive parameter for the detection of patients at short-term risk for the onset of ascites; 2) very low urinary sodium is an indicator of refractory ascites, whereas values are virtually the same and higher in subjects without ascites or with treatable forms; 3) chloruresis in only reduced significantly in cirrhosis with refractory ascites.