Diuretic-induced hypokalemia and altered renal function.
The effect of a maximal dose of a commonly used diuretic, chlorthalidone, on renal function was assessed in 6 patients with untreated essential hypertension. 100 mg daily of chlorthalidone for a 4-week period produced a significant fall in the plasma potassium concentration and total body potassium content by 16 and 4.2%, respectively. Associated with this change in body potassium status was a 10% decrease in the maximum urine concentrating capacity (p less than 0.01). Renal plasma flow, but not glomerular filtration rate, was also depressed (9.2%) by diuretic therapy. These results suggest that small diuretic induced deficits in the plasma potassium concentration as well as the total body potassium status interfere with renal tubular function.
D000368:Aged; D002752:Chlorthalidone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007671:Kidney Concentrating Ability; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood
D012083:Renin; D002752:Chlorthalidone; D011188:Potassium