The effects of piretanide, a potassium stable diuretic, on serum electrolytes in patients with congestive heart failure.
In a randomized double-blind, parallel group study, the effects of piretanide on serum electrolytes and on symptoms of congestive heart failure were compared with those of the combination piretanide plus triamterene in out-patients with mild to severe congestive heart failure. A total of 60 patients entered the study; 13 patients were excluded from the statistical analysis (4 due to premature end of the study, 2 due to dose increase, 7 due to concomitant medication (antihypertensive or antihypotensive agents), so that the results of 47 patients were statistically analyzed, 26 of them in the piretanide and 21 of them in the piretanide plus triamterene group. Piretanide (6 mg once daily) and piretanide plus triamterene (6 mg + 50 mg once daily) both produced a significant reduction in certain symptoms of congestive heart failure which was evident at 2 weeks and was maintained and further enhanced over the ensuing 12-week trial period. Improvement in a number of symptoms of congestive heart failure was attained in 54% of the patients in the piretanide group and 67% in the piretanide plus triamterene group. This difference, however, was not clinically relevant, since the symptoms which are expected to improve in this short time showed no great difference between the two groups. There were no significant changes in serum potassium and serum magnesium within groups or differences between the groups. There were decreases in serum sodium, calcium and inorganic phosphorus in the piretanide plus triamterene group. In the piretanide group, only a temporary drop in inorganic phosphorus was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011897:Random Allocation; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014223:Triamterene / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004232:Diuretics; D004573:Electrolytes; D013449:Sulfonamides; C015451:piretanide; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D014223:Triamterene