Comparative analysis of torasemide and furosemide in liver cirrhosis

This review concerns studies of the comparative efficacy and safety of torasemide and furosemide in patients with cirrhosis of the liver complicated by ascites and oedema. The short-term trials reviewed indicated that in patients who had failed to respond with adequate diuresis and loss of body weight and ascites to bed rest, restricted salt and water intake and spironolactone, torasemide had a longer duration of action than furosemide and resulted in a greater urinary excretion of salt and water and greater loss of body weight. Torasemide also had less effect than furosemide on urinary potassium excretion and unlike furosemide did not increase the fractional excretion of magnesium or phosphate or the blood ammonia concentration. Two longer term trials in similar patients with decompensated hepatic cirrhosis confirm the results of the shorter term studies. These studies, albeit each in relatively small numbers of patients, confirm the ability of torasemide to enhance diuresis, free water clearance and fractional excretion of sodium and chloride, resulting in loss of body weight and mobilization of ascites in patients with decompensated hepatic cirrhosis. In these patients, the relatively small increase in urinary excretion of potassium, induced by torasemide without any marked effect on renal function or on the plasma neurohormonal profile, enhances its potential safety.