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The furosemide test and vestibular status in Meniere's disease.

A total of 62 ears of patients with typical Meniere's disease was examined by the furosemide test to detect endolymphatic hydrops. In 95% of the normal control group, the per cent change in the maximum velocity of the slow phase of caloric nystagmus (MVS) after injection of furosemide was under 10%. Therefore, a positive furosemide test was defined as a change in MVS of more than 10%. Thirty-five (56%) of the 62 ears with typical Meniere's disease showed a positive furosemide test. When the affected ears were divided into two groups according to vestibular symptoms, only 11 (38%) of 29 inactive ears were positive while 24 (73%) of 33 active ears were positive. There was a significant difference in the positive rate of the furosemide test between the ears with clinically inactive and active vestibular disease. The per cent canal paresis (CP%) was determined to assess canal excitability and a CP%> 25% was defined as canal paresis. There was no significant difference in the furosemide test positive rate between ears with canal paresis and ears with a normal CP%, although the former tended to show a greater MVS change. The response to the furosemide test showed no relationship to the results of pure tone audiometry. In conclusion, the furosemide test appears to indicate the vestibular status in various stages of Meniere's disease.

Ear Canal↗

Co-administration of furosemide augments tacrolimus-induced impairment in kidney function in rats.

Sodium-depletion in rats reproduces functional and morphological tacrolimus nephrotoxicity observed in man. Potent diuretics induce sodium-depletion. Our objective was to determine the effect of a loop diuretic furosemide on tacrolimus-mediated functional and pathological impairment of the kidney in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups; group 1, rats received vehicle (saline) only; group 2, rats were treated with tacrolimus (1 mg/kg body weight) and furosemide (5 mg/kg body weight); group 3, rats were treated with tacrolimus alone; and group 4, rats were treated with furosemide (5 mg/kg body weight) alone. On day 28, tail blood pressure was measured and the rats were placed in metabolic cages for urine collection. After 24 hr the rats were sacrificed. Tacrolimus alone tended to cause growth retardation, hypotension, hypomagnesemia and a rise in blood urea nitrogen. Furosemide co-administration enhanced the effects of tacrolimus on hypotension, hypomagnesemia and a rise in blood urea nitrogen. The renal histology characterized by cytoplasmic vacuolization of the proximal tubules was not different between the rats treated with both tacrolimus and furosemide and the rats treated with tacrolimus alone. A strong immunostaining for FKBP-12, a tacrolimus-binding protein, was observed in the medulla of the kidneys of rats treated with tacrolimus either with or without furosemide. These results indicate that furosemide further augments tacrolimus induced impairment in kidney function, and that furosemide should be used with discretion in patients on tacrolimus therapy.

Animals↗

Antihypertensive action of non-natriuretic doses of furosemide in Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

BACKGROUND: That non-natriuretic doses of loop diuretics exert an antihypertensive action has been suggested, but not confirmed, by simultaneous measurements of the arterial pressure and sodium balance during therapy. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between changes in arterial pressure and changes in sodium balance during furosemide treatment. DESIGN: Twenty hypertensive Dahl salt-sensitive rats fed a 4% NaCl diet were allocated to four groups and administered the following treatments: placebo once a day intraperitoneally, continuous infusion of 4 mg/day furosemide intraperitoneally, 4 mg furosemide once a day intraperitoneally and 12 mg furosemide once every third day intraperitoneally. METHODS: The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured continuously with radiotelemetry and the sodium balance was measured with the rats in metabolic cages. RESULTS: Administration of furosemide as a bolus injection once a day (P < 0.01) or once every third day (P < 0.05) lowered the MAP significantly compared with placebo, whereas continuous infusion of furosemide had no significant effect on the MAP (P < 0.07). Fast Fourier transformation analysis detected an acute antihypertensive action related to the temporary diuretic and natriuretic responses during the period 0-6 h after intraperitoneal bolus injections of 4 and 12 mg furosemide. None of the treatment regimens produced 24 h sodium or potassium losses. At the end of the study, the total body water, extracellular fluid volume, total body sodium and potassium were similar for rats in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Furosemide has an acute antihypertensive action in Dahl salt-sensitive rats fed a 4% NaCl diet that is related to renal sodium and volume losses whereas the long-term antihypertensive effect is independent of changes in extracellular fluid volume, total body water, sodium and potassium.

Animals↗

Low tonicity mediates a downregulation of cyclooxygenase-1 expression by furosemide in the rat renal papilla.

It is well known that loop diuretics enhance the renal excretion of prostanoids; therefore, this study aimed to characterize the influence of loop diuretics on the intrarenal expression of cyclooxygenases, which are the key enzymes for prostanoid formation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were infused with furosemide (12 mg/kg per d) for 6 d, and the expression of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (Cox-1 and Cox-2) was analyzed in the different kidney zones. Furosemide increased Cox-2 mRNA expression approximately twofold in the cortex, but it left Cox-1 mRNA expression unaltered there. In the outer medulla, furosemide changed neither Cox-1 nor Cox-2 mRNA expression. In the inner medulla, however, furosemide decreased Cox-1 and Cox-2 mRNA levels to approximately 30% and 60% of their control levels, respectively. The downregulation of mRNA was paralleled by a decrease of Cox protein in the collecting ducts and interstitial cells. Moreover, tissue prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) concentrations in the papilla were markedly decreased by furosemide to about 30% of the control level. Furosemide lowered urine osmolality from 1550 mosmol/kg to 480 mosmol/kg; therefore, further consideration was given to the influence of tonicity as a possible mediator of the effects of furosemide on the Cox expression. Water loading was therefore used to reduce the medullary tonicity by a second maneuver. Water loading led to a similar reduction in papillary Cox mRNA expression and PGE(2) content like furosemide. To investigate the influence of the osmolarity on the expression of Cox and the production of PGE(2) under defined in vitro conditions, inner medullary collecting duct cells were incubated with culture medium containing graded amounts of NaCl ranging from 200 mmol/L to 600 mmol/L, and Cox-1 and Cox-2 mRNA abundance were determined after 24 h an 48 h. Cox-1 and Cox-2 mRNA abundance changed in parallel with the osmolarity. The data suggest that loop diuretics decrease the expression of cyclooxygenases and consequently tissue PGE(2) concentrations in the kidney inner medulla. This effect could be related to the breakdown of the papillary osmotic gradient induced by loop diuretics.

Actins↗

Monitoring furosemide in racehorses participating in an EIPH program.

Analytical procedures were developed to monitor furosemide concentrations in post-race serum and urine samples obtained from horses participating in an exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) program. High performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet light detection proved a reliable, sensitive method for measuring urinary furosemide concentrations up to 12 h after administration of either 150 or 250 mg of the drug to race horses. However, this method was unreliable for determination of serum furosemide concentration. High performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection proved a reliable, sensitive method for measuring serum furosemide concentration in horses administered 250 mg of the diuretic, permitting detection of approximately 5-10 ng/ml 6 h after treatment. This method was applied to field conditions where furosemide was administered to horses (between 150 and 250 mg intravenously) 4 h prior to the race. Analytical results assisted in establishing a threshold concentration of 85 ng/ml for serum furosemide. It was found that serum furosemide concentrations are a valid measure of compliance with furosemide administration in the EIPH program.

Animals↗

Age-dependent cardiovascular, renal and endocrine responses to furosemide in conscious lambs.

1. The present study was performed to investigate some of the physiological responses to furosemide during postnatal maturation. 2. In 1- (n = 8) and 6-week old (n = 10) conscious, chronically instrumented lambs at least 3 days after surgery, three experiments were performed at intervals of 24-48 h and in random order. Various parameters of cardiovascular and endocrine function, as well as cumulative urinary flow rates, were measured before and after intravenous injection of 0 mg/kg (experiment one), 0.25 mg/kg (experiment two; low dose) and 5 mg/kg (experiment three; high dose) furosemide. 3. After high-dose furosemide, mean venous pressure decreased and there was a transient increase in mean arterial pressure in lambs aged 6 weeks. At 1 week of age, heart rate increased after high-dose furosemide and renal blood flow decreased. After high-dose furosemide, plasma renin activity increased in both groups of lambs, although the effects were greater in 1-week-old lambs. Plasma levels of arginine vasopressin increased after high-dose furosemide in lambs aged 1 but not 6 weeks. Cumulative urinary flow rate responses to furosemide were similar in 1- and 6-week-old lambs. 4. These data provide new information that cardiovascular and endocrine responses to furosemide are developmentally regulated.

Aging↗

Effect of furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide and sodium restriction on rat adrenoceptors.

The interaction of thiazide diuretics and furosemide with adrenoceptors was investigated in normal rat in vivo by determining the effect of sodium-deficient diet alone or combined with hydrochlorothiazide or furosemide on adrenoceptors in heart, kidney and skeletal muscle. In addition, interaction of diuretics with renal adrenoceptors in vitro was investigated. Sodium-deficient diet alone retarded growth significantly, and this effect was increased by simultaneous treatment with furosemide 10-40 mg/kg body weight and day subcutaneously. No consistent alteration was demonstrated in density or affinity of alpha 1-, alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptors due to the in vivo treatment. In vitro, furosemide inhibited the equilibrium specific binding of radioligands to alpha 1-, alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptors to rat kidney particulate fraction concentration-dependently. Furosemide increased Kd (equilibrium dissociation constant) and reduced Bmax (number of specific binding sites) of the radioligands as determined by Scatchard analysis of binding saturation data. The Pseudo-Hill coefficient of the inhibition by furosemide of 125I-iodocyanopindolol binding was 1.47, indicating a complex interaction consistent with a non-competitive inhibition. In conclusion, the results do not support the hypothesis that sodium deficiency alone or with diuretic treatment for one week alters tissue adrenoceptors in the normal rat. The pattern of inhibition by furosemide of ligand binding to adrenoceptors suggests that furosemide binds to an allosteric site on the receptors or to an adjacent macromolecule.

Animals↗

Furosemide elicits immediate sympathoexcitation via a renal mechanism independent of angiotensin II.

This investigation aimed at examing the hypothesis that furosemide elicits renal sympathoexcitation through stimulation of renal renin release, which in turn produces increased plasma angiotensin II levels, causing centrally mediated sympathoexcitation. In addition, direct central nervous actions of furosemide on central control of mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity were examined. Furosemide (300 mg/kg intravenously) was administered to four groups of rats: (1) control; (2) nephrectomized; (3) with intravenous losartan blockade (10 mumol/kg); and (4) with intracerebroventricular losartan blockade (10 nmol). In a fifth group of rats, furosemide was administered intracerebroventricularly (0, 2.5, 25 or 250 micrograms). To eliminate reflex control of mean arterial pressure, heart rate and efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity, all experiments were performed in rats with sinoaortic denervation and bilateral vagotomy. Experiments were performed during Saffan anaesthesia (0.9% alphaxalone/0.3% alphadolone), and rats were paralyzed with pancuronium and artifically ventilated. Furosemide produced an immediate 40% increase in efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity while the furosemide vehicle, 2 vol.% ethanolamine, did not affect efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity. The furosemide-induced increase in efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity was abolished in rats with bilateral nephrectomy but it was not affected by intravenous or intracerebroventricular losartan blockade. Intracerebroventricular angiotensin II produced an increase in mean arterial pressure and efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity whereas intravenous angiotensin II produced a pressor response in absence of increased efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity. Losartan effectively blocked responses to intravenous or intracerebroventricular angiotensin II. Intracerebroventricular administration of furosemide produced no changes in mean arterial pressure, heart rate or efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin II↗

Mechanism of furosemide-induced natriuresis by direct stimulation of renal prostaglandin E2.

Studies were conducted to investigate the interaction of renal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and the renin-angiotensin system in the mechanism of furosemide-induced natriuresis. In conscious rabbits with permanent urinary bladder cannulation, furosemide in vivo (10 mg/kg) increased urinary water, sodium, and PGE2 excretion and plasma renin activity (PRA) over 50 min. Furosemide administered in vivo enhanced renal papillary but not cortical in vitro PGE2 biosynthesis. Prior administration of indomethacin at 2 mg/kg augmented the saluretic effect of furosemide, decreased its effect on UPGE2 V, abolished the rise in PRA, and reduced cortical but not papillary PGE2 biosynthesis. However, at 10 mg/kg, indomethacin reduced the saluretic effect of furosemide and eliminated the increase in UPGE2 V with continued suppression of PRA. Direct addition of furosemide in vitro to the incubation medium (10(-5) and 10(-3) M) markedly augmented papillary PGE2 synthesis. It is concluded that furosemide stimulates renal papillary PGE2 biosynthesis directly without mediation by angiotensin II, resulting in an increase in UPGE2 V, and the enhanced or inhibitory effect of indomethacin on furosemide-induced natriuresis is dose related and dependent on the degree of PGE2 synthesis inhibition in the presence of suppressed PRA, which occurred at all doses studied.

Angiotensin II↗

Does lithium clearance reflect distal delivery in humans? Analysis with furosemide infusion.

Fractional excretion of lithium (FELi+) has been proposed as an index of fluid delivery to the distal nephron. The increase in FELi+ after the "loop diuretic" furosemide indicates that this postulate may not be valid unless furosemide acts in the proximal tubules. We studied the effect of furosemide (40 mg iv as bolus, followed by 20 mg/h infusion for 90 min) in eight healthy male subjects during maximal water diuresis. Special care was taken to exactly replace urinary losses. Furosemide greatly increased fractional excretion of sodium, from 1.3 +/- 0.4 to 27.8 +/- 3.9%, and water, from 14.2 +/- 1.7 to 38.2 +/- 3.7% (P less than 0.01). There was a disproportionately large increase in FELi+ from 30.3 +/- 3.0 to 53.7 +/- 2.9% (P less than 0.01), whereas fractional excretion of some other alleged proximal markers increased to a lesser extent. Lysine vasopressin, infused at the end of the experiment (n = 7), caused only a small increase in urine osmolality from 225 +/- 17 to 241 +/- 17 mosmol/kg (P less than 0.01), indicating that medullary hyperosmolality had been largely abolished. The most likely explanation of these results is that furosemide has a moderate action in the proximal tubules, and at the same time inhibits preexistent lithium absorption in Henle's loop. In addition, the large difference between FELi+ and maximal urine flow remaining after furosemide suggests that, despite the decreased medullary osmotic gradient, water backdiffusion is unaltered by furosemide or that lithium concentration in the proximal tubule is changed by furosemide.

Diuresis↗

Furosemide reduces lung fluid filtration in lambs with lung microvascular injury from air emboli.

To study the effects of furosemide on the neonatal pulmonary circulation in the presence of lung injury, we measured pulmonary arterial and left atrial pressures, cardiac output, lung lymph flow, and concentrations of protein in lymph and plasma of nine lambs that received furosemide, 2 mg/kg iv, during a continuous 8-h intravenous infusion of air. Air embolism increased pulmonary vascular resistance by 71% and nearly tripled steady-state lung lymph flow, with no change in lymph-to-plasma protein ratio. These findings reflect an increase in lung vascular protein permeability. During sustained lung endothelial injury, diuresis from furosemide led to a rapid reduction in cardiac output (average 29%) and a 2-Torr decrease in left atrial pressure. Diuresis also led to hemoconcentration, with a 15% increase in both plasma and lymph protein concentrations. These changes were associated with a 27% reduction in lung lymph flow. In a second set of studies, we prevented the reduction in left atrial pressure after furosemide by inflating a balloon catheter in the left atrium. Nevertheless, lymph flow decreased by 25%, commensurate with the reduction in cardiac output that occurred after furosemide. In a third series of experiments, we minimized the furosemide-related decrease in cardiac output by opening an external fistula between the carotid artery and jugular vein immediately after injection of furosemide. In these studies, the reduction in lung lymph flow (average 17%) paralleled the smaller (17%) decrease in cardiac output. These results suggest that changes in lung vascular filtration pressure probably do not account for the reduction in lung lymph flow after furosemide in the presence of lung vascular injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Furosemide dynamics: influence of dietary sodium and of saralasin.

The influence of dietary sodium and saralasin on the natriuretic and diuretic response to furosemide (5 mg/kg i.v.) was studied in three groups of conscious rabbits maintained for 4 weeks on either a normal sodium diet (NSD), or a low sodium diet (LSD) or a high sodium diet (HSD). Neither the sodium content in the diet nor saralasin affected glomerular filtration rate or renal plasma flow. Compared to the NSD, an LSD did not affect the furosemide-induced increment in urinary excretion of sodium (dUNaV) but increased the increment in urinary excretion (dUV) (p less than 0.05). An HSD reduced the furosemide-induced dUNaV and dUV (p less than 0.05). Plasma renin activity (PRA) increased following furosemide administration in animals on an NSD and an LSD, but not in those on an HSD. Independent of diet, a positive correlation occurred between the increment in PRA and the dUNaV (p less than 0.001). Saralasin increased PRA and decreased baseline urinary excretion of sodium (UNaV). In addition, in rabbits on an LSD, saralasin reduced the furosemide-induced dUNaV and dUV by 34 and 27% (p less than 0.05), respectively. It is concluded that furosemide-induced diuresis is increased in rabbits on an LSD and decreased in rabbits on an HSD. In animals on an LSD, the increase in furosemide response appears to be associated with changes in the activity of the renin-angiotensin system and in rabbits on an HSD, the decrease in furosemide effect is probably the net result of several factors.

Animals↗

The effects of oral furosemide on the response of urinary excretion of cyclic adenosine monophosphate and phosphate to parathyroid extract in normal subjects.

We studied the effects of oral furosemide, 80 mg/day for 7 days, on the response of urinary excretion of phosphate and cyclic AMP to exogenous parathyroid extract (PTE) in 6 normal subjects. All 6 subjects had marked increases in urinary calcium and a significant increase in urinary cyclic AMP from the control to the furosemide periods: this suggests that furosemide-induced hypercalciuria produced elevated parathyroid activity. After treatment with furosemide, the response of urinary cyclic AMP and phosphate to PTE was blunted. During the subsequent calcium infusion (4 mg/kg), urinary cyclic AMP was suppressed to subnormal values, and the response to PTE returned to normal. The evidence suggests that furosemide may blunt the response to PTE, perhaps as a result of the elevated parathyroid activity produced by furosemide-induced hypercalciuria and lowering of plasma-ionized calcium. This blunting effect of furosemide on the response of urinary phosphate and cyclic AMP to PTE should be considered in the evaluation of parathyroid function in patients taking furosemide.

Calcium↗

Role of the renal prostaglandins in furosemide-induced diuresis.

The role of the renal prostaglandin (PG) system in the renal effects of furosemide was assessed by using indomethacin, an inhibitor of PG synthetase, in conscious rats under conditions of vasopressin infusion (or dehydration). Urinary PGE and PGF2 alpha were measured by radioimmunoassay under conditions of furosemide-induced diuresis. The diuretic and natriuretic effects of furosemide were accompanied by a concomitant increase in the urinary excretion of PGE. In normal rats the pretreatment of indomethacin at 10 mg/kg failed to alter the diuretic effect of furosemide (5 mg/kg). In contrast, the diuretic effect of furosemide in vasopressin (2 U/kg)-infused (or dehydrated) rats was greatly inhibited by indomethacin. In regard to the natriuretic effect of furosemide, indomethacin did impair this response to furosemide both in normal and vasopressin-infused (or dehydrated) rats, but inhibited more strongly in the latter than in the former. These results suggest that the renal PGE is necessary for furosemide to produce optimal diuretic and natriuretic effects under conditions of vasopressin infusion (or dehydration).

Animals↗

Role of angiotensin II in renal prostaglandin E2 production after furosemide administration.

The role of plasma angiotensin II (Ang II) in furosemide-stimulated renal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was evaluated in eight healthy subjects. Urine was collected for 60 minutes after furosemide administration (20 mg i.v.) with or without captopril pretreatment, and urinary excretion of PGE2, sodium, and furosemide was determined. Plasma renin activity (PRA) and Ang II were also measured before and 60 minutes after furosemide administration. Urinary PGE2 excretion, PRA, and Ang II increased after furosemide administration without captopril pretreatment, and there was a significant correlation between the increment in Ang II and that in urinary PGE2 excretion. Urinary PGE2 excretion and Ang II did not increase after furosemide administration with captopril pretreatment. Urine volume and urinary excretion of sodium and furosemide were not influenced by captopril pretreatment. These results suggest that Ang II may play an important role in furosemide-stimulated PGE2 production.

Adult↗

Effect of inhaled furosemide on metabisulfite- and methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction and nasal potential difference in asthmatic subjects.

To evaluate the hypothesis that furosemide inhibits indirect bronchoconstrictor challenges by altering airway epithelial ion transport, we studied its effects on indirect bronchoconstriction induced by inhaled metabisulfite (MBS) and nasal potential difference (PD) in seven subjects with mild asthma. Its effect on direct bronchoconstriction by the inhaled muscarinic agonist methacholine (MC) was studied in six of these subjects. Each subject inhaled furosemide, 30 mg, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion immediately before challenge with MBS (0.3 to 160 mg/ml in increasing doubling concentrations) and, in another study, MC (0.125 to 32 mg/ml) aerosols from a nebulizer attached to a dosimeter. PC20MBS and PC20MC, the concentration of each agent needed to lower FEV1 by 20%, were calculated by linear interpolation of the log dose-response curves. Furosemide had no effect on resting lung function, but it caused a significant threefold reduction in sensitivity to MBS (PC20MBS: GM +/- GSEM, 15.1 +/- 1.6 mg/ml after placebo and 40.7 +/- 1.7 mg/ml after furosemide; p less than 0.001) with a protective index of 64.8 +/- 10.7%. Furosemide caused no change in sensitivity to MC (PC20 MC:GM +/- GSEM, 2.37 +/- 1.61 mg/ml after placebo and 2.19 +/- 1.751 mg/ml after furosemide; NS). In a third study, furosemide, 30 mg, and placebo were inhaled through the nose in a randomized double-blind fashion immediately prior to inhalation of a PC20 concentration of MBS through the nose. Nasal PD was measured before and after placebo or furosemide, and again after MBS inhalation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Inhalation↗

Inhaled furosemide prevents both the bronchoconstriction and the increase in neutrophil chemotactic activity induced by ultrasonic "fog" of distilled water in asthmatics.

Inhaled furosemide has been shown to prevent bronchoconstriction induced by inhalation of ultrasonic nebulization of distilled water (UNDW) in bronchial asthma. To evaluate whether inhaled furosemide also prevents the increase in serum neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) observed during UNDW bronchoconstriction, we measured NCA during UNDW challenge without (control) and immediately after inhalation of furosemide (40 mg) or placebo (saline) in 10 asthmatics responsive to UNDW, in a randomized, double-blind study. NCA was assessed by measuring the maximal distance reached by neutrophils in a filter when challenged with the subject serum in a Boyden chamber ("leading front"). UNDW inhalation produced a significant increase in NCA in each subject. Gel filtration chromatography on S400 column indicated that the NCA released were 600 to 700 kD. Saline had no effect on bronchoconstriction nor on NCA increase induced by UNDW in nine patients. Furosemide did not change baseline FEV1, but it prevented bronchoconstriction and NCA increase in nine patients. In the whole group the maximal decrease in FEV1 after UNDW was -31.1%, SEM 4.7 after saline and -7.5%, SEM 5.2 after furosemide, p less than 0.001, the maximal increase in NCA after UNDW was +52.9%, SEM 9.2 after saline and +3.8%, SEM 3.1 after furosemide, p = 0.001. These results indicate that inhaled furosemide prevents both the bronchoconstriction and the NCA increase induced by UNDW inhalation in most asthmatic patients. This finding adds support to the suggestion that furosemide acts on mast cells.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Effect of inhaled furosemide and torasemide on bronchial response to ultrasonically nebulized distilled water in asthmatic subjects.

Inhaled furosemide has been shown to reduce the bronchoconstriction induced by several indirect stimuli, including ultrasonically nebulized distilled water (UNDW). Because the protective effect could be due to the inhibition of the Na(+)-2Cl(-)-K+ cotransport system of bronchial epithelium, we have compared the protective effect of inhaled furosemide with that of inhaled torasemide, a new and more potent loop diuretic, on UNDW-induced bronchoconstriction in a group of 12 asthmatic subjects. UNDW challenge was performed by constructing a stimulus-response curve with five increasing volume outputs of distilled water (from 0.5 to 5.2 ml/min) and the bronchial response expressed as the provocative output causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PO20UNDW). On different days, each subject inhaled an equal dose (28 mg) of furosemide and torasemide in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study 5 min prior to an UNDW challenge. Furosemide and torasemide had no significant effect on resting lung function. The geometric mean value of PO20UNDW measured after placebo was 1.73 ml/min. This was significantly lower than that recorded after furosemide (4.25 ml/min; p < 0.025), but not after torasemide (3.05 ml/min; p = 0.07). Inhaled furosemide totally blocked bronchial response to UNDW in five subjects. In two of five subjects the response was also blocked by inhaled torasemide. A remarkable increase in diuresis was noted only after torasemide in most subjects. We conclude that inhaled furosemide has a better protective effect than does inhaled torasemide against UNDW-induced bronchoconstriction. However, the protective effect of furosemide is variable, with some asthmatic patients showing no change in bronchial response to UNDW.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Inhalation↗