In a 2006 review of IV diuretics published in the American Journal of Medicine, scientists from the University of Hull were not completely convinced that the therapy was reliably safe. Their studies led them to believe the technology was not dependable since certain side effects occurred including renal dysfunction and electrolyte abnormalities. “There remains a compelling need for well-designed randomized, controlled clinical trials to establish treatment regimens [surrounding IV diuretics],” explained the scientists from the United Kingdom university.
In their recent study though, scientists from Brigham and Women’s Hospital saw more promising and encouraging results. They looked at 60 patients with chronic heart failure and worsening congestion, and they treated them with a bolus (single dose of a drug or other medicinal preparation given all at once) and 3-hour infusion of IV furosemide, a water pill that prevents the body from absorbing too much salt, allowing the salt to instead be passed in your urine at an outpatient clinic (drugs.com).
“A standardized conversion algorithm was used to derive diuretic dosing from the maintenance of oral loop diuretic dose,” stated a HealthDay press release.
Less than 10 percent of patients experienced renal failure or hypokalemia (deficiency of potassium in the bloodstream) progression, and hospitalization was only 31.7 percent after 30 days, down from the expected 52.8 percent. No patients died.
Watch the following video to learn more about the molecular basis of IV diuretics.
Source: Medical Xpress