Renal effects of aminophylline in hepatic cirrhosis

In 18 cirrhotics with impaired renal perfusion intravenous injection of aminophylline 3 mg/kg b.w. increased mean renal blood flow (133-Xenon washout) from 1.77 +/- 0.71 to 1.99 +/- 0.44 ml/g/min (p less than 0.01). No significant change in cardiac output was found. In a further 10 cirrhotic patients the administration of aminophylline 3 mg/kg decreased the mean tubular reabsorption of sodium in the proximal section of the nephron (distal delivery) from 10.5 +/- 6.2 to 16.3 +/- 16.5 (p less than 0.01). Free-water production increased as a consequence of the increased supply of sodium to the diluting segment. Thus, aminophylline acts favourably on the functional renal impairment that occurs in hepatic cirrhosis.