Elevation of inferior vena cava pressure and thoracic lymph and urine flow.

With an increase in renal vein pressure by partial obstruction of the inferior vena cava in dogs, there follows an increase in thoracic lymph flow and a simultaneous decrease in urine flow and urine sodium excretion per minute. The increase in lymph flow appears to be caused by an increased production of renal lymph, since control animals with absent or nonfunctioning kidneys fail to show this lymph flow increase. Renal deviation of fluid and sodium to the lymphatics may similarly occur in heart failure and account for the retention of sodium and water.