Furosemide-induced adverse reactions in cirrhosis of the liver

Furosemide is frequently used for ascites and causes adverse reactions (AR). In an intensive prospective drug monitoring study of 1,920 patients, 172 (8.9%) had cirrhosis of the liver and received furosemide. Mean age was 53 years, and 66.3% were male; and 87% had alcoholic cirrhosis. Eighty-eight (51.2%) had 221 events that by consensus of the monitoring team and attending physicians were either definitely of probably related to furosemide. No AR was fatal but 24% of patients had severe reactions. Almost all reactions were dose-related (96%). The most common were electrolyte disturbances (23.3% of patients) and volume depletion (14%). Furosemide-induced coma occurred in 20 (11.6%) patients and was more frequent in patients with prior hepatic encephalopathy (p less than 0.0005). Higher total doses (p less than 0.001), hyerbilirubinemia (p less than 0.05), prolonged prothrombin time (p less than 0.02), and longer hospital stay (p less than 0.001) were associated with higher frequencies of AR to furosemide. The frequency of hypokalemia did not decrease when potassium chloride or potassium-sparing diuretics were added to furosemide therapy. Frequdncy of AR did not correlate with age, sex, renal impairment, serum albumin, transaminase, or alkaline phosphatase.