title: Stasis oedema in the elderly: are diuretics necessary?
abstract: Diuretic therapy was discontinued in 15 elderly patients. None of these patients had evidence of uncontrolled cardiac failure or hypertension, and they all had received diuretics long-term. Two patients required resumption of diuretics due to the development of cardiac failure or severe leg oedema. In the remaining 13 patients, mean leg volume increased by 8.2%. Discontinuation of diuretic therapy in elderly patients is associated with a small but significant worsening of lower limb oedema.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Medicine Unit, City Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: MacLennan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics