Resolution of refractory hypotension and anuria in a premature newborn with loss-of-function of ACE

We present the investigation and management of a premature, hypotensive neonate born after a pregnancy complicated by anhydramnios to highlight the impact of early and informed management for rare kidney disease. Vasopressin was used to successfully treat refractory hypotension and anuria in the neonate born at 27 weeks of gestation. Next generation sequencing of a targeted panel of genes was then performed in the neonate and parents. Subsequently, two compound heterozygous deletions leading to frameshift mutations were identified in the angiotensin 1-converting enzyme gene ACE; exon 5:c.820_821delAG (p.Arg274Glyfs*117) and exon24: c.3521delG (p.Gly1174Alafs*12), consistent with a diagnosis of renal tubular dysgenesis. In light of the molecular diagnosis, identification, and treatment of associated low aldosterone level resulted in further improvement in renal function and only mild residual chronic renal failure is present at 14 months of age. Truncating alterations in ACE most often result in fetal demise during gestation or in the first days of life and typically as a result of the Potter sequence. The premature delivery, and serendipitous early treatment with vasopressin, and then later fludrocortisone, resulted in an optimal outcome in an otherwise lethal condition.

Does the inhibition of renin-angiotensin system decrease inter-dialytic weight gain in anuric hemodialysis patients?

OBJECTIVE

Knowledge about the inhibition of centrally located angiotensin-I (AT-I) receptors by highly lipophilic AT-I receptor blockers and its' effect are limited with experimental studies. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effect of Telmisartan on Inter-dialytic weight gain (IDWG) % and echocardiographic measurements in anuric hemodialysis (HD) patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of forty-one anuric HD patients with ≥ 6 months maintenance on HD were included in this prospective, randomized and self-controlled study. Four weeks prior the study, angiotensin converting enzyme blockers and AT-I receptor blocker drugs were stopped. Patients were assessed three times during the study protocol. These are baseline, three months later (without Telmisartan period) and three months after Telmisartan therapy.

RESULTS

IDWG % was significantly decreased in the period of with Telmisartan compared to period without Telmisartan (5.6 ± 1.0% vs 5.3 ± 1.0%, p = 0.03). After the administration of Telmisartan left ventricule end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) (p = 0.001) and inferior vena cava diameter (IVCD) (19.1 ± 3.8 mm vs 17.3 ± 4.2 mm, p = 0.001) were significantly decreased compared to the period of without Telmisartan. Despite of significantly changes observed in IVCD and LVEDD measurements in a period without Telmisartan, there was no significantly difference in left ventricular mass index (LVMI) measurements in this period. However, LVMI was significantly regressed after the administration of Telmisartan (269.3 ± 82.7 g vs 256.3 ± 70.3 g, p = 0.003 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of anuric HD patients with Telmisartan at a dose of 40 mg a day reduces IDWG%, LVEDD and IVCD measurements. Further studies investigating the long-term effect of these beneficial effects on clinical outcomes are necessary.

Aminophylline improves urine flow rates but not survival in childhood oliguric/anuric acute kidney injury

INTRODUCTION

Acute kidney injury (AKI) morbidity and mortality rates remain high. Variable AKI outcomes have been reported in association with aminophylline treatment. This study evaluated AKI outcome in a group of Nigerian children treated with aminophylline.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of AKI in children treated with (N=9) and without (N=8) aminophylline. Studied outcome indices comprised urine flow rate (UFR), duration of oliguria/anuria, progression through AKI stages, number of patients requiring dialysis and mortality.

RESULTS

Mean ages for the control and aminophylline arms were 4.6±2.7 and 4.9±2.1 years (P=0.7), respectively. All patients progressed to stage-3 AKI. Baseline median UFRs in the aminophylline and control arms were similar (0.13 Vs 0.04 ml/kg/hour respectively, P=0.5). The median UFR was significantly higher on day-5 (0.8 Vs 0.1; P=0.03), day-6 (1.0 Vs 0.2; P=0.02), and day-7 (1.2 Vs 0.2; P=0.03) in the aminophylline than the control arm, respectively. Short duration of oliguria/anuria (≤ 6 days) was more frequently observed in aminophylline- treated patients compared to controls (77.8% Vs 25.0%; odds ratio 0.09; 95% CI: 0.01-0.89; P=0.04). Only the aminophylline group maintained steady serum creatinine levels. Four out of five patients in the control group were dialyzed compared to only one out of eight patients in the aminophylline group (odds ratio 0.16; 95% CI: 0.04-0.71; P=0.03). Mortality rates were similar in aminophylline- treated and control patients (33% Vs 25%; hazard ratio 0.8; 95% CI: 0.1-5.5; P=0.8).

CONCLUSION

Aminophylline therapy was beneficial for patients with AKI in terms of improved UFR and reduced need for dialysis, but failed to impact positively on survival.

Effect of spironolactone on blood pressure and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in oligo-anuric hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Through its actions on nonepithelial tissues, including brain, blood vessels, and heart, aldosterone may mediate hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, and fibrosis. Whether aldosterone has a direct pathogenic role in the development of cardiovascular complications in patients with end-stage renal disease is unknown. Oligo-anuric dialysis patients provide a clinical setting to study the effects of the mineralocorticoid receptor blocker spironolactone that are independent of the diuretic properties of the drug. We performed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study to assess the effect of spironolactone on blood pressure and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in oligo-anuric hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

Eight hemodialysis patients were administered either spironolactone, 50 mg, or placebo orally twice daily for 2 weeks, followed by a 3-week washout period, after which patients crossed over in their treatment arms for 2 more weeks.

RESULTS

Administration of spironolactone for 2 weeks decreased predialysis systolic blood pressure from 142.0 +/- 19.6 to 131.4 +/- 18.2 mm Hg (P < 0.05). Compared with placebo, a 2-week course of spironolactone had no effect on predialysis and postdialysis plasma potassium or aldosterone concentrations or renin activity.

CONCLUSION

When administered for 2 weeks, spironolactone, 50 mg twice daily, reduced predialysis systolic blood pressure, but did not produce hyperkalemia in oligo-anuric hemodialysis patients.

Glycyrrhetinic acid decreases plasma potassium concentrations in patients with anuria

ABSTRACT. Licorice-associated hypertension is thought to be due to increased renal sodium retention. The active compound of licorice, glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), inhibits renal 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11beta-HSD2) and by that mechanism increases access of cortisol to the mineralocorticoid receptor that causes renal sodium retention and potassium loss. In addition, a direct vascular effect of 11beta-HSD activity has recently been incriminated to promote hypertension, a contention based on in vitro observations. This investigation was designed to establish whether this extrarenal effect of 11beta-HSD is relevant for BP regulation and potassium concentrations in plasma. In a prospective, double-blind, cross-over study, seven patients with anuria on chronic hemodialysis were randomly assigned after a baseline period of 2 wk to placebo or GA (1 g/d) for 2 wk, separated by a washout phase of 3 wk. The ratio of plasma cortisol/cortisone, determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, increased in all patients after GA intake (F = 9.705; P < 0.004), which indicates inhibition of 11beta-HSD. Twenty-four-hour BP values did not change throughout the study. The increase of the plasma cortisol/cortisone ratio was paralleled by a decline in the plasma potassium concentration in every patient. The mean +/- SD plasma potassium concentration decreased from 5.5 +/- 0.6 mM/L at baseline to 4.9 +/- 0.7 and 4.5 +/- 0.8 mM/L after 1 and 2 wk on GA, respectively (F = 9.934, P < 0.003). Extrarenal 11beta-HSD activity influences serum potassium concentrations but does not regulate BP independently of renal sodium retention.

Pharmacokinetics of cefpirome during continuous venovenous hemofiltration: rationale for an 8-hour dosing interval

OBJECTIVE

Cefpirome is a new semisynthetic cephalosporin, primarily eliminated by the kidneys, that requires dosage adjustment in patients with kidney failure. The optimal dosing regimen of cefpirome in patients with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) is unknown.

METHODS

Pharmacokinetic properties of cefpirome were investigated in eight anuric patients with acute kidney failure treated by CVVH. All patients received a dosage of 2 g cefpirome every 8 hours after starting the hemofiltration with high-flux polysulfone membranes. Concentrations of cefpirome in plasma and ultrafiltrate were measured by HPLC.

RESULTS

Total clearance and hemofiltration clearance of cefpirome were 589.1 +/- 164.5 mL/min and 43.3 +/- 7.8 mL/min, respectively. Serum elimination half-life was 2.36 +/- 0.59 hours. The highest plasma drug concentration was 14.8 +/- 3.2 microg/mL, and it declined to trough levels of 3.1 +/- 0.8 microg/mL at the end of the dosing interval.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of previously published pharmacodynamic characteristics of cefpirome and the pharmacokinetic parameters obtained in this study, we calculated a required total daily dose of 2 g every 8 hours to achieve sufficient plasma antibiotic levels to cover the majority of target pathogens. However, this dosage may be insufficient during CVVH for intermediate resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Efficacy of low-dose dopamine infusion

Urine output following administration of a low-dose dopamine infusion was assessed in 20 very immature infants (median gestational age 27 weeks). Prior to the infusion, all infants had had a period of anuria. Urine output improved significantly during the second 24 h after commencing the infusion but, at that time period, urine output was greater than 2 ml/kg/h (designated a good response) in only 13 infants. There was no significant difference in gestational age, birth weight, period of anuria or fluid input of infants who had a good or a poor response to dopamine. Although the baseline blood pressure did not differ significantly between these two groups, the increase in blood pressure resulting from dopamine administration was significantly greater in those infants with a good response in urine output (p < 0.02). We conclude that low-dose dopamine infusion can improve urine output in very immature infants. Our results suggest that there may be inter-individual variation in the sensitivity to dopamine.

[Anuria after abdominal surgery in 2 newborn infants. Beneficial effect of noradrenaline]

BACKGROUND

Abdominal surgery in neonates may be complicated by acute renal failure that is sometimes due to increased intra-abdominal pressure. Correction of the decreased renal perfusion may be difficult.

CASE REPORTS

Case no 1. A girl weighing 3,000 g was operated on at 3 hours of life for congenital omphalocele. Closing the defect induced increased intra-abdominal pressure and decreased systemic pressure. Despite dopamine, dobutamine, followed by furosemide, anuria persisted without manifestations of heart failure. Noradrenaline (0.1 to 0.7 micrograms/kg/min intravenously) given 24 hours after surgery resulted in normalization of systemic pressure and diuresis. Case no 2. A boy was born at gestational week 30, weighing 1,450 g. At 8 days of age, he was suffering from shock that was attributed to perforation of the bowel due to necrotizing enterocolitis. Surgery was complicated by acute circulatory and renal failure that did not respond to dopamine, dobutamine or furosemide. Infusion of noradrenaline, (0.2 to 0.6 micrograms/kg/min intravenously) induced diuresis within 3 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Noradrenaline can be useful in patients with postoperative increased intra-abdominal pressure. It should only be given after correction of hypovolemia, control of myocardial function, and when dopamine remains ineffective.

Lead intoxication in an anuric patient: management by intraperitoneal EDTA

Treatment of lead intoxication with intravenous ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) depends on the urinary excretion of chelated lead. This route of excretion was absent in a 48-year-old patient with childhood lead exposure and end stage renal failure who developed encephalopathy and a rapidly progressive neuropathy thought to be due to acute lead intoxication. Diagnosis was confirmed by lead chelation with EDTA and neurophysiological studies. EDTA was added by the patient to her chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) fluid each week and chelated lead excreted in the dialysate. Intraperitoneal administration of EDTA was 70% as efficient in removing lead as intravenous administration. Four months of home chelation therapy was associated with resolution of the encephalopathy but no improvement in the peripheral neuropathy.

Intrathecal morphine analgesia and low-dose dopamine for oliguria in severe maternal pulmonary hypertension. A case report

Maternal pulmonary hypertension can be life threatening, and many problems and complications can occur during labor and delivery as well as postpartum. A case of severe maternal pulmonary hypertension was monitored with a pulmonary artery catheter. Intrathecal morphine was administered for labor analgesia, and low-dose dopamine was utilized for maternal oliguria. Neither the morphine nor the dopamine resulted in adverse maternal hemodynamic effects. Both analgesia and resolution of the oliguria were accomplished.

Low dose dopamine in the treatment of persistent oliguria in pre-eclampsia

Oliguria in pre-eclamptic women is most often a result of decreased intravascular volume. In a small number of patients, renal vascular spasm may be the cause of decreased urine output. Prolonged oliguria/anuria secondary to vasospasm may lead to permanent renal damage. When volume repletion is unsuccessful in restoring urine output, some authors have suggested the use of peripheral vasodilators such as hydralazine. Dopamine in low doses 2 micrograms/kg per min was used successfully to restore urine output within an hour in a pre-eclamptic patient who had been essentially anuric for 8 h. Volume administration and hydralazine were unsuccessful. In the rare instance of a patient who is unresponsive to conventional methods, low dose dopamine may provide an adjunctive therapy to restore urine output after delivery. Central monitoring is essential in following such patients.

Dopexamine hydrochloride, a novel drug with renal vasodilator properties: two case studies

Two patients who received an infusion of dopexamine hydrochloride are presented. The dopexamine infusion was associated with a useful increase in urine output. The mechanisms for these effects are discussed and the renovascular dilatation associated with dopexamine highlighted.

Effects of low-dose dopamine therapy in the oliguric patient with preeclampsia

Central hemodynamic and renal responses to low-dose dopamine (1 to 5 micrograms/kg/min) infusion were studied in six oliguric (less than 0.5 ml/kg/hr) patients with severe preeclampsia. Hemodynamic parameters were measured and renal function tests were done before and during therapy. There was a significant rise in urine output from a mean (+/- SD) of 21 +/- 10 to 43 +/- 23 ml/hr, accompanied by a rise in cardiac output from 6.8 +/- 1.8 to 8.0 +/- 2.3 L/min (p less than or equal to 0.05). There were no significant changes in blood pressure, central venous pressure, or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. The fractional excretion of sodium, negative free water clearance, and osmolar clearance tended to rise during dopamine therapy. No adverse maternal or fetal effects occurred. We conclude that low-dose dopamine produces a significant increase in urine production with resolution of oliguria in severe preeclampsia.

Pharmacology and therapeutic use of low-dose dopamine

The renal pharmacologic effects of intravenous dopamine in doses of 0.5-3.0 micrograms/kg/min include increases in renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate, solute excretion, and urine flow. Clinical studies revealed that low-dose dopamine can reverse oliguria, but these studies were poorly controlled, were confounded by the use of other diuretics, had small patient populations, and often did not evaluate mortality or long-term renal function. When used in low doses, side effects are rarely seen. Because of dopamine's effect on hepatic and renal function, changes in drug clearance may occur. Low-dose dopamine may be considered in the early course of oliguric patients; however, specific advantages over other diuretic therapy have not been established.

Indomethacin therapy in premature infants with patent ductus arteriosus and oliguria

Simultaneous administration of one dose of indomethacin (0.3 mg/kg, i.v.) and furosemide (1 mg/kg, i.v.) was given to 8 consecutive premature infants who had patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and oliguria because of prerenal failure. Four infants responded with ductus closure and 2 infants showed improvement in echocardiogram and clinical distress. There was a significant increase in U/O, GFR, FENa and FECl following drug administration. This study suggests that simultaneous administration of indomethacin and furosemide can be safely used in infants with PDA and oliguria.

Dopamine and frusemide in oliguric acute renal failure

Into 24 oliguric patients with acute renal failure (ARF) for whom mannitol and high-dose frusemide had failed to promote a diuresis, dopamine (3 micrograms/kg/min) plus frusemide (10-15 mg/kg/h) were infused for 6-24 h. In 19 of the 24 patients this treatment produced significant increases in diuresis (from 11 +/- 7 to 85 +/- 51 ml/h; p less than 0.001) and natriuresis (from 45 +/- 13 to 88 +/- 22 mEq/1; p less than 0.001), without any significant modification of blood pressure, pulse rate or central venous pressure. 10 of the 24 patients required dialysis: 5 because therapy failed to promote diuresis and the other 5 because of their hypercatabolic state in spite of polyuria. 5 patients died of causes unrelated to ARF. Since all patients who responded were treated within 24 h after the onset of oliguria, it appears to be crucial to administer dopamine and frusemide early, before more severe anatomical and functional damage develops.

Plasma potassium changes in anuric hyperglycemia treated with insulin

We followed sequentially the plasma potassium concentration in five, essentially anuric, hyperglycemic patients with no known abnormality of potassium metabolism and treated only with insulin. Acid-base balance, external potassium and fluid balance, and weights did not change during observation. The following changes in plasma potassium concentration (delta K) were noted: In initial hyperkalemia (three patients) delta K was -1.8 +/- 0.1 mmol/l (p less than 0.005). In normokalemia (one patient) delta K was -1.3 mmol/l. In hypokalemia (one patient) delta K was +0.1 mmol/l. The correlation between the starting potassium concentration and the change in potassium concentration was -0.88 (p = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

When only parenteral insulin is used for treatment and acid-base balances and body weights do not change during treatment in anuric hyperglycemia: a) The change in potassium concentration is dependent on the starting plasma potassium concentration, b) hyperkalemic patients will drop their plasma potassium concentration toward normal, and c) hypokalemic patients may not need potassium replacement.

Synergism of dopamine and furosemide in diuretic-resistant, oliguric acute renal failure

This paper describes our initial clinical findings in a small group of patients with acute oliguric renal failure, who were resistant to extracellular volume expansion and furosemide in large doses. Based on our experience in an experimental model of acute renal failure in the dog, we administered a combination of low-dose dopamine (1-3 micrograms/kg/min i.v.) and furosemide (100-200 mg every 6-8 h). This combination was uniformly effective in inducing a brisk, lasting diuresis and was associated with either stable or reduced serum creatinine levels in two-thirds of the patients. No toxicity was found. These findings would warrant extensive study of this drug combination in a larger, well-controlled, randomized group with oliguric renal failure.

Acute oliguria after cardiopulmonary bypass: renal functional improvement with low-dose dopamine infusion

Hemodynamic and renal function response to low-dose (100 and 200 micrograms/min) dopamine infusion was studied in 15 adult cardiac surgical patients who manifested combined oliguria and left ventricular dysfunction postoperatively. Patients were studied an average of 6.6 h after ICU admission, at normothermia and after 2 consecutive hourly urine output determinations of less than 0.5 ml/kg . h in the presence of a left atrial or pulmonary artery occlusion pressure over 12 mm Hg. Dopamine infusion at 100 micrograms/min produced improvement in creatinine, osmolar and free water clearances (70 +/- 10 to 115 +/- 13, 37 +/- 4 to 93 +/- 16 and --15 +/- 2 to --37 +/- 10 ml/min, respectively), and urinary sodium concentration (15 +/- 5 to 29 +/- 10 mEq/L). Urine flow improved overall from 22 +/- 2 to 54 +/- 9 ml/h; however, in 9 of 15 patients, flow was less than 0.5 ml/kg . h (33 +/- 5 to 50 +/- 6 ml/h). In each of these 9 patients, dopamine infusion at 20 micrograms/min further improved urine flow as well as measured renal function. Plasma renin activity measured in 9 of the 15 patients before and during the 100 micrograms/min dopamine infusion was decreased from 1.95 +/- 0.57 to 0.73 +/- 0.39 ng/ml . h. The hemodynamic effect of both dopamine doses was increased cardiac output coupled with decreased systemic (SVRI) and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI). In these 15 patients, low-dose dopamine infusion produced significant improvement in renal function, with resolution of oliguria in every case, and with no deleterious hemodynamic effect.

Dopamine administration in oliguria and oliguric renal failure

Oliguric renal failure significanlty worsens the prognosis of many critical illnesses, particularly in patients with respiratory failure. In 52 patients, a continuous infusion of dopamine, 1.5-2.5 micrograms/kg . min, was administered when creatine clearance (Ccr) fell below 40 ml/min and urinary output was less than 1 ml/kg . h despite normal intravascular volume. In 18 patients, a continuous infusion of furosemide (3-5 mg/kg . day) was also administered. Daily, two 3-h collections of urine and blood specimens were obtained to determine Ccr, osmolar clearance (Cosm), free water clearance (CH2O) and excreted fraction of filtered sodium (FENa); one collection was made during dopamine infusion and one while the infusion was suspended. Cardiac output and pulmonary venous admixture were also measured. The authors obtained 199 urine collections in 52 patients; considering the aggregate patient pouplation, urinary output increased by 42.3% (30.2 +/- 3.45 (SEM) ml/h), on dopamine infusion. Cosm, FENa, and Ccr were also higher on dopamine. CH2O and hemodynamic variables were not altered by dopamine infusion. When patients were startified on the basis of mechanical ventilatory support, Ccr and furosemide administration, dopamine infusion essentially caused the same changes in the variables studied as described for the aggregate patient population. Diuresis and sodium excretion increased significantly on dopamine even in those patients receiving furosemide infusion. The authors conclude that fluid and osmolar load can be eliminated more effectively in critically ill patients with continuous infusion of 1.5-2.5 micrograms/kg . min of dopamine.

[Therapy of postoperative urinary retention with prostaglandin (author's transl)]

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was instilled into the bladder of 25 unselected patients suffering from post-operative urinary retention. Prior to this PGE2 application the patients were treated by a number of conservative methods without any success. 14 patients were unable to pass water spontaneously, 11 showed residual urines between 80 and 250 ml. As a rule 40 cc of an aqueous solution of PGE2 at body temperature was instilled into the catheterised bladder in the morning (14 times 0.75 mg and 11 times 1.5 mg) while the advice was given to avoid micturition for six hours. After this period and on the next morning micturition was allowed and the amount of residual was measured. When absolute urinary retention continued or the amount of residual urine exceeded 30 ml the instillation of PGE2 was repeated. Eight patients were able to empty the bladder at the first trial of micturition after PGE2 medication; on the next morning 3 additional patients were without residual urine. An obvious improvement of the initial situation was achieved in 12 additional cases (9 times spontaneous micturition for the first time and 3 times distinct diminution of residual urine). Only 2 test persons were treated without success. In 9 cases the instillation of PGE2 was repeated and thus 5 times complete emptying of the bladder was achieved as well as 4 times a marked reduction of residual urine. In 4 cases one to three days after successful PGE2 treatment retention of urine occurred again. No untoward side effects were observed.

Prostaglandin-independent protection by furosemide from oliguric ischemic renal failure in conscious rats

In 38 conscious rats divided into seven groups, acute unilateral ischemic renal failure was induced by 1 hour of complete occlusion of the left renal artery while the contralateral kidney remained intact. Renal excretory function of the left kidney was monitored up to 144 hours after ischemia and revealed a typical course of oliguric renal failure with oligoanuria persisting for more than 48 hours. Urinary osmolality and sodium concentration became plasma isotonic after release of renal artery occlusion and approximated control values on day 6 after ischemia. In nine rats, the i.v. infusion of furosemide before (6 microgram/min/100 g body wt) and after (12 microgram/min/100 g body wt) renal artery occlusion protected the ischemic kidney from oligoanuria with endogenous creatinine clearance of 0.42 +/- 0.11 ml/min/g kidney wt 5 hours after ischemia. Tubular absorption of sodium and water was at least partially preserved 36 hours after ischemia when infusion of furosemide was stopped. The loop diuretic significantly (P less than 0.01) increased total urinary prostaglandin (PG) E2 excretion before and after renal artery occlusion; and 5 hours after ischemia, PGE2 excretion from the ischemic kidney significantly exceeded that from the intact kidney (P less than 0.05). Indomethacin (1 mg/100 g body wt) administered in six animals markedly suppressed control PGE2 excretion (P less than 0.05) as well as the furosemide-induced rise in urinary PG excretion before and after ischemia but did not modify the protective effect of the diuretic in this experimental model. Inhibition of PG synthesis, however, reduced urinary flow rate and sodium and potassium excretion of the contralateral intact kidney and almost completely prevented its compensatory rise in creatinine clearance. The results indicate that mechanisms other than the intrarenal prostaglandin system must be considered to mediate the protective effects of furosemide in acute ischemic renal failure.

Furosemide in acute oliguric renal failure. A controlled trial

A randomized study was conducted on 66 patients with acute established oliguric renal failure. Intravenous doses of furosemide ranging from 1.5 to 6.0 mg/kg were given every 4 h to 33 of the patients; the remaining 33 patients served as controls. A persisting diuretic response was observed in 5 treated patients and in 2 controls. Hemodialyses were required in most of them. Furosemide did not significantly modify in cured patients the mean oliguric period, the number of dialyses and the mean period of renal insufficiency.

[Pharmacokinetic characteristics of a massive dose of furosemide in acute kidney failure]

A pharmacokinetic study with high doses of frusemide has been performed in nine patients with acute tubulopathy, treated by hemodialysis. The patients were studied between 6 and 28 days after the beginning of the disease. Renal function was normal before the episode of acute renal shutdown. The diuretic effect of frusemide was closely related to creatinine clearance (Ccr): no effect in anuric cases, moderate effect if Ccr was lower than 10 ml/mn, marked effect if Ccr was higher than 10 ml/mn. no direct relationship could be demonstrated between drug plasma level and natriuresis. Frusemide half-life in plasma was short even in anuric patients, suggesting the existence of an extra renal excretion and/or inactivation pathway. Hence toxic side effects due to drug accumulation should not appear in the recommended 1 g/day regimen.

Reversal of oliguria and renal cortical ischemia of hemorrhagic shock in the dog with tris (hydroxymethyl) amino methane (THAM). Hemodynamic studies

We investigated the functional and hemodynamic effects on the kidney of tris (hydroxymethyl) amino methane (THAM) infusion during sustained hemorrhagic hypotension in dogs. The large osmotic load introduced into the vascular compartment during hemorrhagic hypotension resulted in a marked reduction in systemic vascular resistance and a return of cardiac output, total renal blood flow, and the renal arteriographic pattern to normal range. The observed diuresis is probably due to an osmotic effect, because the glomerular filtration rate remains significantly depressed. Anatomical assignment of the mathematical components of the xenon washout curve led to an assessment of intrarenal blood flow distribution that was at variance with the arteriographic pattern and the intrarenal distribution of tagged microspheres.

[Clinical experiences with dopamine after heart surgery]

15 patients have been treated with dopamine (2.0--6.0 gamma/kg/min) in the initial phase of cardiogenic shock after cardiac surgery. Indication was a systolic blood pressure of less than 85 mmHg associated with oligurie and peripheral vasoconstriction. 12 patients survived the cardiocirculatory crisis and the early postoperative period. Dopamine alone increased the arterial blood pressure in 6 patients from 52.4 to 80.1 mmHg and the urine flow from 25.2 ml/hr to 181.2 ml/hr. To obtain an optimal perfusion pressure additional application of Noradrenalin was used in 8 patients. In these patients the urine flow rose from 9.1 ml/hr to 131 ml/hr. In one patient no reaction, neither to dopamine, nor in combination with Noradrenalin was seen. The effect of pulse rate, central venous pressure and arterial oxygen tension has been discussed. Dopamine seems to be a useful substance in surgical patients with temporary cardiac insufficiency.

Renal excretion of vancomycinin in kidney disease

The renal climination of vancomycin has been determined in 18 patients. In 4 anuric patients in intermittent haemodialysis the dosage of vancomycin necessary to treat infection with penicillin-resistantstrains of Staphylococcus aureus was determined. In 14 patients with varying degrees of renal insufficiency vancomycin, creatinine and 125-iothalamate clearances were measured and found to be closely correlated. After administration of the initial vancomycin dose and attainment of the serum concentration desired, the maintenance dose can be calculated on the basis of the GFR.

Long term pulmonary artery pressure monitoring in the management of the critically ill

Detailed experience during prolonged pulmonary artery pressure monitoring (up to 19 days) in 86 seriously ill patients is reviewed. Strict adherence to a protocol developed for insertion and maintenance of Swan-Ganz catheters resulted in successful catheterization of the pulmonary artery in nearly 100% of patients with minimal morbidity. Several technical problems associated with the use of this catheter-monitoring system are described, excessive balloon inflation with resultant misleading, spuriously high pressure measurement being one of the most serious. Most technical problems are avoidable. In the majority of critically ill patients both central venous and pulmonary artery diastolic pressures proved to be in-accurate estimates of pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAW). PAW was a useful adjunct in the assessment of intravascular volume and hemodynamic alterations in these patients. The Swan-Ganz catheter serves for other functions including collection of mixed venous blood for cardiac output determination and injection of contrast material for small vessel angiography. Measurement of pulmonary artery wedge pressures should be routinely included in the sequential hemodynamic evaluation of most patients sufficiently ill to be hospitalized in an intensive care unit.

Treatment of acute post-operative inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion with diphenylhydantoin

Post-operative inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion was observed 6 times in a group of 26 patients without diabetes insipidus before surgery for craniopharyngioma. Fourteen patients with existing diabetes insipidus did not show this disturbance. Intravenous administration of diphenylhydantoin (250 mg q. 8 h) controlled the hyponatraemia during the interphase of abnormal urine concentration and established an increased transitory water excretion in an 8 year old child operated upon for craniopharyngioma.