A role of frusemide in resistant hypertension

Five patients who were resistant to their antihypertensive drug therapy were admitted to hospital. Four had marked falls in blood pressure and an associated loss of weight. This fall in blood pressure was able to be repeated outside hospital by adding frusemide to their other drug therapy. Certain hypertensive patients become resistant to their antihypertensive therapy, owing to the accumulation of sodium. Thiazides may not have sufficient natriuretic properties to correct this accumulation. In these circumstances, frusemide may allow the hypertension to be controlled.