Loop diuretic therapy with or without heart failure: impact on prognosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Many patients are prescribed loop diuretics without a diagnostic record of heart failure. Little is known about their characteristics and prognosis. METHODS: Glasgow regional health records (2009-16) were obtained for adults with cardiovascular disease or taking loop diuretics. Outcomes were investigated using Cox models with hazard ratios adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic deprivation, and comorbid disease (adjHR). RESULTS: Of 198 898 patients (median age 65 years; 55% women), 161 935 (81%) neither took loop diuretics nor had a diagnostic record of heart failure (reference group), 23 963 (12%) were taking loop diuretics but had no heart failure recorded, 7844 (4%) had heart failure recorded and took loop diuretics, and 5156 (3%) had heart failure recorded but were not receiving loop diuretics. Compared to the reference group, five-year mortality was only slightly higher for heart failure in the absence of loop diuretics [22%; adjHR 1.2 (95% CI 1.1-1.3)], substantially higher for those taking loop diuretics with no record of heart failure [40%; adjHR 1.8 (95% CI 1.7-1.8)], and highest for heart failure treated with loop diuretics [52%; adjHR 2.2 (95% CI 2.0-2.2)]. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with cardiovascular disease, many are prescribed loop diuretics without a recorded diagnosis of heart failure. Mortality is more strongly associated with loop diuretic use than with a record of heart failure. The diagnosis of heart failure may be often missed, or loop diuretic use is associated with other conditions with a prognosis similar to heart failure, or inappropriate loop diuretic use increases mortality; all might be true.

Semaglutide and diuretic use in obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a pooled analysis of the STEP-HFpEF and STEP-HFpEF-DM trials.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In the STEP-HFpEF trial programme, treatment with semaglutide resulted in multiple beneficial effects in patients with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Efficacy may vary according to baseline diuretic use, and semaglutide treatment could modify diuretic dose. METHODS: In this pre-specified analysis of pooled data from the STEP-HFpEF and STEP-HFpEF-DM trials (n = 1145), which randomized participants with HFpEF and body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2 to once weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo for 52 weeks, we examined whether efficacy and safety endpoints differed by baseline diuretic use, as well as the effect of semaglutide on loop diuretic use and dose changes over the 52-week treatment period. RESULTS: At baseline, across no diuretic (n = 220), non-loop diuretic only (n = 223), and loop diuretic [<40 (n = 219), 40 (n = 309), and >40 (n = 174) mg/day furosemide equivalents] groups, there was progressively higher prevalence of hypertension and atrial fibrillation; and greater severity of obesity and heart failure. Over 52 weeks of treatment, semaglutide had a consistent beneficial effect on change in body weight across diuretic use categories (adjusted mean difference vs. placebo ranged from -8.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) -10.3, -6.3] to -6.9% [95% CI -9.1, -4.7] from no diuretics to the highest loop diuretic dose category; interaction P = .39). Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire clinical summary score improvement was greater in patients on loop diuretics compared to those not on loop diuretics (adjusted mean difference vs. placebo: +9.3 [6.5; 12.1] vs. +4.7 points [1.3, 8.2]; P = .042). Semaglutide had consistent beneficial effects on all secondary efficacy endpoints (including 6 min walk distance) across diuretic subgroups (interaction P = .24-.92). Safety also favoured semaglutide vs. placebo across the diuretic subgroups. From baseline to 52 weeks, loop diuretic dose decreased by 17% in the semaglutide group vs. a 2.4% increase in the placebo group (P < .0001). Semaglutide (vs. placebo) was more likely to result in loop diuretic dose reduction (odds ratio [OR] 2.67 [95% CI 1.70, 4.18]) and less likely dose increase (OR 0.35 [95% CI 0.23, 0.53]; P < .001 for both) from baseline to 52 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with obesity-related HFpEF, semaglutide improved heart failure-related symptoms and physical limitations across diuretic use subgroups, with more pronounced benefits among patients receiving loop diuretics at baseline. Reductions in weight and improvements in exercise function with semaglutide vs. placebo were consistent in all diuretic use categories. Semaglutide also led to a reduction in loop diuretic use and dose between baseline and 52 weeks. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04788511 and NCT04916470.

Effect of Torsemide Versus Furosemide on Symptoms and Quality of Life Among Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure: The TRANSFORM-HF Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Loop diuretics are a primary therapy for the symptomatic treatment of heart failure (HF), but whether torsemide improves patient symptoms and quality of life better than furosemide remains unknown. As prespecified secondary end points, the TRANSFORM-HF trial (Torsemide Comparison With Furosemide for Management of Heart Failure) compared the effect of torsemide versus furosemide on patient-reported outcomes among patients with HF. METHODS: TRANSFORM-HF was an open-label, pragmatic, randomized trial of 2859 patients hospitalized for HF (regardless of ejection fraction) across 60 hospitals in the United States. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to a loop diuretic strategy of torsemide or furosemide with investigator-selected dosage. This report examined effects on prespecified secondary end points, which included Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score (KCCQ-CSS; assessed as adjusted mean difference in change from baseline; range, 0-100 with 100 indicating best health status; clinically important difference, ≥5 points) and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (range, 0-6; score ≥3 supporting evaluation for depression) over 12 months. RESULTS: Baseline data were available for 2787 (97.5%) patients for KCCQ-CSS and 2624 (91.8%) patients for Patient Health Questionnaire-2. Median (interquartile range) baseline KCCQ-CSS was 42 (27-60) in the torsemide group and 40 (24-59) in the furosemide group. At 12 months, there was no significant difference between torsemide and furosemide in change from baseline in KCCQ-CSS (adjusted mean difference, 0.06 [95% CI, -2.26 to 2.37]; P=0.96) or the proportion of patients with Patient Health Questionnaire-2 score ≥3 (15.1% versus 13.2%: P=0.34). Results for KCCQ-CSS were similar at 1 month (adjusted mean difference, 1.36 [95% CI, -0.64 to 3.36]; P=0.18) and 6-month follow-up (adjusted mean difference, -0.37 [95% CI, -2.52 to 1.78]; P=0.73), and across subgroups by ejection fraction phenotype, New York Heart Association class at randomization, and loop diuretic agent before hospitalization. Irrespective of baseline KCCQ-CSS tertile, there was no significant difference between torsemide and furosemide on change in KCCQ-CSS, all-cause mortality, or all-cause hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients discharged after hospitalization for HF, a strategy of torsemide compared with furosemide did not improve symptoms or quality of life over 12 months. The effects of torsemide and furosemide on patient-reported outcomes were similar regardless of ejection fraction, previous loop diuretic use, and baseline health status. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT03296813.

Revisiting voltage-coupled H+ secretion in the collecting duct.

Experimental studies have shown that V-type ATPase-driven H+ secretion is dependent on the transepithelial voltage. On this basis the "voltage hypothesis" of urinary acidification by the collecting duct was derived. Accordingly, it has been supposed that the lumen-negative potential created by the reabsorption of Na+ via the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) enhances electrogenic H+ secretion via the V-type H+-ATPase. This concept continues to be widely used to explain acid/base disorders. Importantly, however, a solid proof-of-principle for the voltage hypothesis in physiologically relevant situations has not been reached. Rather, it has been challenged by recent in vivo functional studies. In this review we outline the arguments and experimental observations explaining why voltage-coupled H+ secretion in the collecting duct often appears poorly applicable to rationalize for changes of H+ secretion as a function of more or less ENaC function in the collecting duct.

5/6 Nephrectomy Impairs Acute Kaliuretic Responses and Predisposes to Postprandial Hyperkalemia.

The susceptibility of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to develop postprandial hyperkalemia suggests alterations in normal kidney sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) handling, but the exact nature of these changes is largely unknown. To address this, we analyzed the natriuretic and kaliuretic responses to diuretics and acute K+ loading in rats who underwent 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx) and compared this to the response in sham-operated rats. The natriuretic and kaliuretic responses to furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, and amiloride were largely similar between 5/6Nx and sham rats except for a significantly reduced kaliuretic response to hydrochlorothiazide in 5/6Nx rats. Acute dietary K+ loading with either 2.5% potassium chloride or 2.5% potassium citrate caused lower natriuretic and kaliuretic responses in 5/6Nx rats compared with sham rats. This resulted in significantly higher plasma K+ concentrations in 5/6Nx rats which were accompanied by corresponding increases in plasma aldosterone. Acute K+ loading caused dephosphorylation of Ste20-related proline/alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) and the sodium-chloride cotransporter (NCC) both in sham and 5/6Nx rats. In contrast, the acute K+ load decreased the Na+/hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) and increased serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) and the α-subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) only in sham rats. Together, our data show that 5/6Nx impairs the natriuretic and kaliuretic response to an acute dietary K+ load which is further characterized by a loss of ENaC adaptation and the development of postprandial hyperkalemia.

Predicting sex differences in the effects of diuretics in renal epithelial transport during angiotensin II-induced hypertension.

Chronic angiotensin II (ANG II) infusion is an experimental model that induces hypertension in rodents. The natriuresis, diuresis, and blood pressure responses differ between males and females. This is perhaps not unexpected, given the rodent kidney, which plays a key role in blood pressure regulation, exhibits marked sex differences. Under normotensive conditions, compared with males, the female rat nephron exhibits lower Na+/H+ exchanger 3 (NHE3) activity along the proximal tubule but higher Na+ transporter activities along the distal segments. ANG II infusion-induced hypertension induces a pressure natriuretic response that reduces NHE3 activity and shifts Na+ transport capacity downstream. The goals of this study were to apply a computational model of epithelial transport along a rat nephron 1) to understand how a 14-day ANG II infusion impacts segmental electrolyte transport in male and female rat nephrons and 2) to identify and explain any sex differences in the effects of loop diuretics, thiazide diuretics, and K+-sparing diuretics. Model simulations suggest that the NHE3 downregulation in the proximal tubule is a major contributor to natriuresis and diuresis in hypertension, with the effects stronger in males. All three diuretics are predicted to induce stronger natriuretic and diuretic effects under hypertension compared with normotension, with relative increases in sodium excretion higher in hypertensive females than in males. The stronger natriuretic responses can be explained by the downstream shift of Na+ transport load in hypertension and by the larger distal transport load in females, both of which limit the ability of the distal segments to further elevate their Na+ transport.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Sex differences in the prevalence of hypertension are found in human and animal models. The kidney, which regulates blood pressure, exhibits sex differences in morphology, hemodynamics, and membrane transporter distributions. This computational modeling study provides insights into how the sexually dimorphic responses to a 14-day angiotensin II infusion differentially impact segmental electrolyte transport in rats. Simulations of diuretic administration explain how the natriuretic and diuretic effects differ between normotension and hypertension and between the sexes.

Thiazide Diuretics and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Evidence from clinical trials and observational studies on the association between thiazide diuretics and colorectal cancer risk is conflicting. We aimed to determine whether thiazide diuretics are associated with an increased colorectal cancer risk compared with dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (dCCBs). A population-based, new-user cohort was assembled using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Between 1990-2018, we compared thiazide diuretic initiators with dCCB initiators and estimated hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of colorectal cancer using Cox proportional hazard models. Models were weighted using standardized morbidity ratio weights generated from calendar time-specific propensity scores. The cohort included 377,760 thiazide diuretic initiators and 364,300 dCCB initiators, generating 3,619,883 person-years of follow-up. Compared with dCCBs, thiazide diuretics were not associated with colorectal cancer (weighted HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.90, 1.04). Secondary analyses yielded similar results, although an increased risk was observed among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (weighted HR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.13, 5.35) and potentially polyps (weighted HR = 1.46, 95% CI: 0.93, 2.30). Compared with dCCBs, thiazide diuretics were not associated with an overall increased colorectal cancer risk. While these findings provide some reassurance, research is needed to corroborate the elevated risks observed among patients with inflammatory bowel disease and history of polyps.

A cohort study of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors after acute kidney injury among Veterans with diabetic kidney disease.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) reduce the risk for several adverse outcomes among patients with diabetic kidney disease. Yet, optimal timing for SGLT2i after acute kidney injury (AKI) is uncertain, as are the providers responsible for post-AKI SGLT2i initiation. Using a retrospective cohort of United States Veterans with diabetes mellitus type 2 and proteinuria, we examined encounters by provider specialty before SGLT2i initiation and subsequent all-cause mortality after hospitalization with AKI, defined by a 50% or more rise in serum creatinine. Covariates included recovery, defined by return to a 110% or less of baseline creatinine, and time since AKI hospitalization. Among 21,330 eligible Veterans, 7,798 died (37%) and 6,562 received a SGLT2i (31%) over median follow-up of 2.1 years. Post-AKI SGLT2i use was associated with lower mortality risk [adjusted hazard ratio 0.63 (95% confidence interval 0.58-0.68)]. Compared with neither SGLT2i use nor recovery, mortality risk was similar with recovery without SGLT2i use [0.97 (0.91-1.02)] but was lower without recovery prior to SGLT2i use [0.62 (0.55-0.71)] and with SGLT2i use after recovery [0.60 (0.54-0.67)]. Finally, the effect of SGLT2i was stable over time (P for time-interaction 0.19). Thus, we observed reduced mortality with SGLT2i use after AKI among Veterans with diabetic kidney disease whether started earlier or later or before or after observed recovery. Hence, patients with diabetic kidney disease who receive a SGLT2i earlier after AKI experience no significant harm impacting mortality and experience a lower mortality risk than those who do not.

Hydration Methods for Cisplatin Containing Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN) can be prevented by fluid hydration, electrolyte supplementation, or forced diuresis; however, the best way to prevent CIN is still unknown. The aim of this study was to provide objective evidence on the optimal design of hydration schemes to prevent CIN based on an update of the literature. METHODS: A Pubmed and Embase search were conducted in December 2021 and repeated in April 2022 and March 2023. Two independent reviewers screened the articles. The included articles were categorized and reviewed per category. RESULTS: Twenty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. The included studies varied widely. Four out of seven studies investigating diuretics found a protective effect of adding mannitol to the hydration scheme. All six studies investigating duration and amount of volume of hydration found that a short-hydration scheme resulted in less CIN than a longer hydration scheme. Seven out of nine articles evaluating the role of electrolytes found that magnesium supplementation reduced the risk of nephrotoxicity. Three studies investigated the safety of oral hydration and concluded that nephrotoxicity did not occur more frequently after oral hydration. CONCLUSION: The hydration scheme of cisplatin should be short and consist of a relatively small amount of volume. The scheme should include mannitol and magnesium supplementation. Head-to-head studies are needed to investigate the safety of furosemide compared with mannitol and the dose of mannitol and magnesium.

Preeclampsia, antihypertensive medication use in pregnancy and risk of childhood cancer in offspring.

PURPOSE: Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication that presents a significant risk to both the mother and the fetus. Preeclampsia and medications associated with its treatment are potentially linked to increased childhood cancer risk. Therefore, we examined the association between preeclampsia, antihypertensive medications, and childhood cancer in offspring. METHODS: Cases (n = 6,420) and controls (n = 160,484) were obtained from Danish national registries. We performed conditional logistic regression analyses to estimate the association between preeclampsia and childhood cancer risk, and examined the effects of antihypertensive medication use in pregnancy in relation to childhood cancer risk in the offspring with adjustment for relevant covariates. RESULTS: We observed an increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) among those whose mothers had preeclampsia (OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.03, 1.79), especially for severe preeclampsia (OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.37, 4.08). We also estimated an increased cancer risk in children born to mothers who were prescribed diuretics during pregnancy [OR = 2.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39, 3.14]. Intake of other antihypertensive medications was not associated with childhood cancer (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.50, 1.23). Among women who did not take diuretics in pregnancy, preeclampsia was associated with neuroblastoma (OR = 2.22, 95% CI 1.08, 4.55). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested an increased risk for certain types of cancer in the offspring of mothers with preeclampsia and an increased risk of cancer with diuretic intake during pregnancy.

Effects of hypertension and use of antihypertensive drugs in pregnancy on the risks of childhood cancers in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Childhood cancers are associated with high mortality and morbidity, and some maternal prescription drug use during pregnancy has been implicated in cancer risk. There are few studies on the effects of hypertension, preeclampsia, and the use of antihypertensives in pregnancy on children's cancer risks. OBJECTIVE: This population-based cohort study analyzed the relationship between hypertension, preeclampsia, and antihypertensives taken during pregnancy and the risks of childhood cancers in the offspring. METHODS: Data on all children born in Taiwan between 2004 and 2015 (N = 2,294,292) were obtained from the Maternal and Child Health Database. This registry was linked with the National Health Insurance Database and Cancer Registry to get the records of maternal use of diuretics or other antihypertensives in pregnancy and records of children with cancer diagnosed before 13 years. We used Cox proportional hazard modeling to estimate the influence of maternal health conditions and antihypertensive drug exposure on the risks of developing childhood cancers. RESULTS: Offspring of mothers with hypertension (chronic or gestational) had a higher risk of acute lymphocytic lymphoma [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.87, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.32 - 2.65] and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (HR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.34 - 2.86). We estimated only a weak increased cancer risk in children whose mothers used diuretics (HR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.77 - 1.74) or used antihypertensives other than diuretics (HR = 1.15, 95% CI 0.86 - 1.54) before birth. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort study, children whose mothers had chronic and gestational hypertension had an increased risk of developing childhood cancer.

Diuretic Tolerance to Repeated-Dose Furosemide in Infants Born Very Preterm with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the presence and timing of furosemide diuretic tolerance in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and to determine if tolerance is modified by thiazide co-administration. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective cohort study among infants born very preterm with BPD exposed to repeated-dose furosemide for 72 hours, measuring net fluid balance (total intake minus total output) as a surrogate of diuresis in the 3 days before and after exposure. The primary comparison was the difference in fluid balance between the first and third 24 hours of furosemide exposure. We fit a general linear model for within-subject repeated measures of fluid balance over time, with thiazide co-administration as an interaction variable. Secondary analyses included an evaluation of weight trajectories over time. RESULTS: In 83 infants, median fluid balance ranged between + 43.6 and + 52.7 ml/kg/d in the 3 days prior to furosemide exposure. Fluid balance decreased to a median of + 29.1 ml/kg/d in the first 24 hours after furosemide, but then increased to +47.5 ml/kg/d by the third 24-hour interval, consistent with tolerance (P < .001). Thiazides did not modify the change in fluid balance during furosemide exposure for any time-period. Weight decreased significantly in the first 24 hours after furosemide and increased thereafter (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The net fluid balance response to furosemide decreases rapidly during repeated-dose exposures in infants with BPD, consistent with diuretic tolerance. Clinicians should consider this finding in the context of an infant's therapeutic goals. Further research efforts to identify safe and effective furosemide dosage strategies are needed.

Rationale and Design of the DECONGEST (Diuretic Treatment in Acute Heart Failure With Volume Overload Guided by Serial Spot Urine Sodium Assessment) Study.

AIMS: To evaluate whether early-combination diuretic therapy guided by serial post-diuretic urine sodium concentration (UNa+) assessments in acute heart failure (AHF) facilitates safe and effective decongestion. METHODS: The Diuretic Treatment in Acute Heart Failure with Volume Overload Guided by Serial Spot Urine Sodium Assessment (DECONGEST) study is a pragmatic, 2-center, randomized, parallel-arm, open-label study aiming to enroll 104 patients with AHF and clinically evident fluid overload requiring treatment with intravenous loop diuretics. Patients are randomized to receive standard of care or a bundled approach comprising: (1) systematic post-diuretic UNa+ assessments until successful decongestion, defined as no remaining clinical signs of fluid overload with a post-diuretic UNa+ ≤ 80 mmol/L; (2) thrice-daily intravenous loop diuretic bolus therapy, with dosing according to estimated glomerular filtration rate; (3) upfront use of intravenous acetazolamide (500 mg once daily [OD]); and (4) full nephron blockade with high-dose oral chlorthalidone (100 mg OD) and intravenous canreonate (200 mg OD) for diuretic resistance, defined as persisting signs of fluid overload with a post-diuretic UNa+ ≤ 80 mmol/L. The primary endpoint of the DECONGEST study is a hierarchical composite of (1) survival at 30 days; (2) days alive and out of hospital or care facility up to 30 days; and (3) greater relative decrease in natriuretic peptide levels from baseline to day 30. CONCLUSION: The DECONGEST study aims to determine whether an intensive diuretic regimen focused on early combination therapy, guided by serial post-diuretic UNa+ assessments, safely enhances decongestion, warranting further evaluation in a larger trial powered for clinical events.

Increased Spironolactone Dosing in Acute Heart Failure Alters Potassium Homeostasis but Does not Enhance Decongestion.

BACKGROUND: The ATHENA-HF (Aldosterone Targeted Neurohormonal Combined with Natriuresis Therapy in Heart Failure) clinical trial found no improvements in natriuretic peptide levels or clinical congestion when spironolactone 100 mg/day for 96 hours was used in addition to usual treatment for acute heart failure. METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis of ATHENA-HF to determine whether spironolactone treatment induced any detectable pharmacodynamic effects and whether patients with potentially greater aldosterone activity experienced additional decongestion. Trial subjects previously treated with spironolactone were excluded. We first examined for changes in renal potassium handling. Using the baseline serum potassium level as a surrogate marker of spironolactone activity, we then divided each treatment arm into tertiles of baseline serum potassium and explored for differences in laboratory and clinical congestion outcomes. RESULTS: Among spironolactone-naïve patients, the change in serum potassium did not differ after 24 hours or 48 hours but was significantly greater with spironolactone treatment compared to placebo at 72 hours (0.23 ± 0.55 vs 0.03 ± 0.60 mEq/L; P = 0.042) and 96 hours (0.32 ± 0.51 vs 0.13 ± 0.72 mEq/L; P = 0.046). Potassium supplementation was similar at treatment start and at 24 hours, but spironolactone-treated patients required substantially less potassium replacement at 48 hours (24% vs 36%; P = 0.048), 72 hours (21% vs 37%; P = 0.013), and 96 hours (11% vs 38%; P < 0.001). When the treatment arms were divided into tertiles of baseline serum potassium, there were no differences in the 96-hour log N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels, net fluid loss, urine output, or dyspnea relief in any of the potassium groups, with no effect modification by treatment exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Spironolactone 100 mg/day for 96 hours in patients receiving intravenous loop diuresis for acute heart failure has no clear added decongestive ability but does meaningfully limit potassium wasting.

Acetazolamide therapy in patients with acute heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Acute heart failure (AHF) often leads to unfavorable outcomes due to fluid overload. While diuretics are the cornerstone treatment, acetazolamide may enhance diuretic efficiency by reducing sodium reabsorption. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of acetazolamide as an add-on therapy in patients with AHF compared to diuretic therapy. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT). A random-effects model was employed to compute mean differences and risk ratios. Statistical analysis was performed using R software. The GRADE approach was used to rate the certainty of the evidence. We included 4 RCTs with 634 patients aged 68 to 81 years. Over a mean follow-up of 3 days to 34 months, acetazolamide significantly increased diuresis (MD 899.2 mL; 95% CI 249.5 to 1549; p < 0.01) and natriuresis (MD 72.44 mmol/L; 95% CI 39.4 to 105.4; p < 0.01) after 48 h of its administration. No association was found between acetazolamide use and WRF (RR 2.4; 95% CI 0.4 to 14.2; p = 0.3) or all-cause mortality (RR 1.2; 95% CI 0.8 to 1.9; p = 0.3). Clinical decongestion was significantly higher in the intervention group (RR 1.35; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.68; p = 0.01). Acetazolamide is an effective add-on therapy in patients with AHF, increasing diuresis, natriuresis, and clinical decongestion, but it was not associated with differences in mortality.

Hyponatraemia-treatment standard 2024.

Hyponatraemia is the most common electrolyte disorder in hospital patients associated with increased morbidity, mortality, hospital stay and financial burden. The speed of a correction with 3% sodium chloride as a 100- to 150-ml intravenous bolus or continuous infusion depends on the severity and persistence of the symptoms and needs frequent biochemical monitoring. The rapid intermittent administration of hypertonic saline is preferred for treatment of symptomatic hyponatraemia. In asymptomatic mild hyponatraemia, an adequate solute intake with an initial fluid restriction (FR) of 500 ml/day adjusted according to the serum sodium (sNa) levels is preferred. Almost half of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) patients do not respond to FR as first-line therapy. At present, urea and tolvaptan are considered the most effective second-line therapies in SIADH. However, the evidence for guidance on the choice of second-line therapy of hypotonic hyponatraemia is lacking. Oral urea is considered to be a very effective and safe treatment. Mild and asymptomatic hyponatraemia is treated with adequate solute intake (salt and protein) and initial FR with adjustments based on sNa levels. Specific treatment with vaptans may be considered in either euvolaemic or hypervolaemic patients with high ADH activity. In order to ensure optimal patient outcome, close monitoring and readiness for administration of either hypotonic fluids or desmopressin may be crucial in the decision-making process for specific treatment and eventual overcorrection consequences. According to the guidelines, gradual correction and clinical evaluation is preferable over rapid normalization of sNa towards the laboratory reference ranges.

Proximal versus distal diuretics in congestive heart failure.

Volume overload represents a hallmark clinical feature linked to the development and progression of heart failure (HF). Alleviating signs and symptoms of volume overload represents a foundational HF treatment target that is achieved using loop diuretics in the acute and chronic setting. Recent work has provided evidence to support guideline-directed medical therapies, such as sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists, as important adjunct diuretics that may act synergistically when used with background loop diuretics in people with chronic HF. Furthermore, there is growing interest in understanding the role of SGLT2 inhibitors, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, thiazide diuretics, and MR antagonists in treating volume overload in patients hospitalized for acute HF, particularly in the setting of loop diuretic resistance. Thus, the current review demonstrates that: (i) SGLT2 inhibitors and MR antagonists confer long-term cardioprotection in chronic HF patients but it is unclear whether natriuresis or diuresis represents the primary mechanisms for this benefit, (ii) SGLT2 inhibitors, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and thiazide diuretics increase natriuresis in the acute HF setting, but implications on long-term outcomes remain unclear and warrants further investigation, and (iii) a multi-nephron segment approach, using agents that act on distinct segments of the nephron, potentiate diuresis to alleviate signs and symptoms of volume overload in acute HF.

Effect of different anti-cardiovascular disease treatments on the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular co-morbidities have a mutually reinforcing effect, but existing studies have focussed only on the improvement of the associated co-morbidities by treatment for OSA. To provide fresh guidelines for the treatment of OSA from a co-morbidity standpoint, we conducted a systematic search of Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for articles published from inception up to 2 May 2023. Fourteen original studies of patients with OSA with cardiovascular co-morbidities and who received related treatment were included in the analysis. We found that diuretic treatment can reduce the apnea-hypopnea index in patients with OSA and hypertension (-19.41/h, p = 1.0 × 10-5 ), aldosterone-angiotensin inhibitors also have a 9.19/h reduction (p = 0.003), while the effect of renal sympathetic denervation is insignificant (-2.32/h, p = 0.19). The short-term treatment (<4 weeks) did not show an improvement (-2.72/h, p = 0.16), while long-term treatment (>4 weeks) produced surprising outcomes (-12.78/h, p = 0.002). Patients with milder disease (baseline AHI < 35/h) had insignificant improvements (-1.05/h, p = 0.46), whereas those with more severe disease (baseline AHI > 35/h) could achieve satisfactory outcomes (-14.74/h, p < 0.00001). In addition, it also showed some improvement in the oxygen desaturation index and blood oxygen. Our results support the additional benefit of antihypertensive treatment for OSA symptoms, and the efficacy can be affected by different therapy, treatment duration, and severity levels. It could be useful in developing clinical therapy, educating patients, and exploring interaction mechanisms. The proposal was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022351206).

The effects of diuretic deprescribing in adult patients: A systematic review to inform an evidence-based diuretic deprescribing guideline.

In this systematic review, we report on the effects of diuretic deprescribing compared to continued diuretic use. We included clinical studies reporting on outcomes such as mortality, heart failure recurrence, tolerability and feasibility. We assessed risk of bias and certainty of the evidence using the GRADE framework. We included 25 publications from 22 primary studies (15 randomized controlled trials; 7 nonrandomized studies). The mean number of participants in the deprescribing groups was 35, and median/mean age 64 years. In patients with heart failure, there was no clear evidence that diuretic deprescribing was associated with increased mortality compared to diuretic continuation (low certainty evidence). The risk of cardiovascular composite outcomes associated with diuretic deprescribing was inconsistent (studies showing lower risk for diuretic deprescribing, or comparable risk with diuretic continuation; very low certainty evidence). The effect on heart failure recurrence after diuretic deprescribing in patients with diuretics for heart failure, and of hypertension in patients with diuretics for hypertension was inconsistent across the included studies (low certainty evidence). In patients with diuretics for hypertension, diuretic deprescribing was well tolerated (moderate certainty evidence), while in patients with diuretics for heart failure, deprescribing diuretics can result in complaints of peripheral oedema (very low certainty evidence). The overall risk of bias was generally high. In summary, this systematic review suggests that diuretic discontinuation could be a safe and feasible treatment option for carefully selected patients. However, there isa lack of high-quality evidence on its feasibility, safety and tolerability of diuretic deprescribing, warranting further research.

Influence of vasopressin receptor antagonists on triple-whammy acute kidney injury: A VigiBase analysis.

Although diuretics play an important role in triple-whammy acute kidney injury (AKI), it is unclear whether the type of diuretic influences the risk of triple-whammy AKI. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether vasopressin receptor antagonists affect triple-whammy AKI. This cross-sectional study used disproportionality analysis of VigiBase data to assess the risk of AKI with various diuretics. Although multiple logistic regression analysis showed that aldosterone antagonists (odds ratio [OR] 2.19, 95% CI 2.01-2.37), loop diuretics (OR 4.40, 95% CI 4.07-4.76) and thiazide diuretics (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.83-2.15) increased the risk of AKI in patients who received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi), vasopressin receptor antagonists did not increase the risk of AKI in those patients. Vasopressin receptor antagonists might not influence the development of triple-whammy AKI.