[Haemodynamic effects of furosemide and ethacrynic acid (author's transl)]

The haemodynamic effects of intravenous injections of furosemide and ethacrynic acid were studied in 12 patients during rest and exercise. Cardiac output, heart rate and arterial blood pressure showed no significant changes after injection of furosemide or ethacrynic acid. Few minutes after injection of furosemide there were significant falls of pulmonary artery diastolic pressure and right atrial pressure, whereas no changes were seen after injection of ethacrynic acid. This initial effect of furosemide apparently is of primarily vascular origin, causing an increased peripheral venous capacitance. Ethacrynic acid failed to exhibit any direct vascular effect.