Effect of furosemide on mesenteric blood flow in the dog

Diuretic therapy has been implicated as a possible inciting factor in nonocclusive mesenteric infarction. In view of this possibility, the effect of furosemide on superior mesenteric arterial blood flow (MBF) was investigated using electromagnetic flow probes in pentobarbital anesthetized dogs. After administration of furosemide, 1 mg/kg iv, MBF decreased by 44%. To assess the role of extracellular volume depletion induced by the diuresis in reducing MBF, volume depletion was prevented by infusing isotonic saline at a rate matching urine flow. In these experiments, MBF was not decreased by furosemide. Thus furosemide induces a marked decrease in mesenteric blood flow and this hemodynamic action involves a mechanism that is dependent upon the volume depletion induced by the drug.