Vol. 28, Issue 3, 323-328, March 2000

Input Rate as a Major Determinant of Furosemide Pharmacodynamics: Influence of Fluid Replacement and Hypoalbuminemia

Gilberto Castañeda-Hernández, Josep Vergés, Vincent Pichette, Lucie Héroux, Gilles Caillé, and Patrick du Souich

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal and Departmento de Farmacología y Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N., Mexico City (G.C.H.)

To investigate how the response to a bolus and an infusion of furosemide is modulated by the rate of fluid replacement and by hypoalbuminemia, rabbits received 5 mg/kg of furosemide as a bolus or infused over 60 min, whereas diuresis was replaced with 13, 121, or 238 ml/h NaCl 0.9%/glucose 5% (50:50). Natriuretic and diuretic efficiencies were greater with the infusion than with the bolus of furosemide. Fluid replacement increased natriuretic and diuretic efficiency of furosemide bolus but only diuretic efficiency of furosemide infusion. Furosemide net fluid depletion reached a plateau when fluid replacement increased beyond 121 ml/h. Repeated plasmapheresis decreased plasma albumin by 30% (P < .05) and increased furosemide unbound fraction (P < .05). Compared with control rabbits, hypoalbuminemia decreased the natriuresis of the bolus (22.7 ± 1.5-16.6 ± 1.3 mmol, P < .05) but not that elicited by furosemide infusion (26.2 ± 1.8 mmol). Given as a bolus, furosemide natriuretic and diuretic response as a function of its urinary rate of excretion exhibited an hyperbolic relationship, and after its infusion a clockwise hysteresis, denoting tolerance. Plasma renin activity was increased by the bolus and the infusion of furosemide, even in the presence of 121 ml/h of fluid replacement. It is concluded that: 1) the increase in natriuretic/diuretic efficiency of the bolus induced by fluid replacement is greater than when furosemide is infused, 2) furosemide net effect does not increase proportionally to fluid replacement, and 3) the infusion of furosemide prevents the hypoalbuminemia-induced decrease in response of furosemide given as a bolus.