title: Hemodynamic effects of acute administration of furosemide in patients with cirrhosis receiving beta-adrenergic antagonists.
abstract: In patients with cirrhosis, both beta-blockers and diuretics decrease the degree of portal hypertension. Since their mechanisms of action differ, the combination of these two substances should induce a more pronounced effect on portal pressure than one of these substances alone. Thus, the hemodynamic effects of furosemide were evaluated in ten patients with cirrhosis receiving beta-blockers. One hour after furosemide (0.75 mg/kg intravenously) administration, cardiac output decreased significantly from 6.2 +/- 0.6 to 5.2 +/- 0.3 l/min and blood volume from 8.0 +/- 1.6 to 5.3 +/- 0.5 l. Mean arterial pressure was not affected. Wedged and free hepatic venous pressures did not change significantly; nor did the hepatic venous pressure gradient (19.6 +/- 1.7 to 18.6 +/- 1.5 mmHg). Azygos blood flow was not affected (0.46 +/- 0.05 to 0.50 +/- 0.07 l/min). In conclusion, this study did not demonstrate that the addition of furosemide to propranolol further decreased portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis. The long-term effects of this combination are unknown and should be tested.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Hémodynamique Splanchnique, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sogni
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Soupison
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Le Moine
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bacq
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hadengue
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lebrec
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D005665:Furosemide