The National Strategic Framework for Renal Services introduced the routine reporting of estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) on serum urea and electrolyte tests. Estimated glomerular filtration rates might reduce renal failure induced by lithium and cardiovascular mortality but there are many false positives. We propose how eGFR might be used in lithium monitoring.

BACKGROUND Cisplatin is an effective anti-neoplastic drug, but its clinical use is limited due to dose-dependent nephrotoxicity. The majority of cisplatin-treated patients develop hypomagnesaemia, often associated with a reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), polyuria and other electrolyte disturbances. The aim of this study is to unravel the molecular mechanism responsible for these particu...

A genuine understanding of the functions of sodium, potassium, calcium , magnesium and their salts in the organism would necessitate a comprehension of the nature of protoplasm and its behaviour in living cells, something we have not begun to attain. Since Peters and Van Slyke published their classic text there has been an enormous increase in understanding of the processes governing the transp...

BACKGROUND Venous blood sampling is usually performed using a tourniquet to help locate and define peripheral veins to achieve successful and safe venipuncture. Despite widespread usage of tourniquets for venipuncture by medical and laboratory staff, very few are aware of the effects of tourniquet application on laboratory parameters. In addition, definitive guidelines regarding when and how to...

BACKGROUND Maximal aldosterone secretion in healthy dogs occurs 30 minutes postadrenocorticotropin (ACTH; 5 μg/kg IV) stimulation. The effect of trilostane and mitotane on aldosterone at that time is unknown. OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of trilostane and mitotane in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism on aldosterone secretory reserve. To determine if aldosterone concentrati...

This study was conducted to characterize the diuretic effect of OPC-41061, a nonpeptide vasopressin V(2)-receptor antagonist, and furosemide by administering each alone and in combination in conscious male rats. OPC-41061 at 1 and 10 mg/kg and furosemide at 10 and 100 mg/kg dose-dependently increased urine volume to the same extent. The high dose of OPC-41061 (10 mg/kg) markedly elevated electr...

BACKGROUND Hypernatraemia is common in critically ill patients and has been shown to be an independent predictor of mortality. Osmotic urea diuresis can cause hypernatraemia due to significant water losses but is often not diagnosed. Free water clearance (FWC) and electrolyte free water clearance (EFWC) were proposed to quantify renal water handling. We aimed to (i) identify patients with hyper...

AIMS Chloride (Cl) is an established key electrolyte for the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Recent studies have shown the serum Cl as a key electrolyte for the regulation of body fluid distribution in heart failure (HF) patients. The clinical differences of worsening HF status according to the changes in serum Cl concentration are unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS Data fro...