Diuretic abuse has been invoked as the cause of idiopathic oedema. In this study, eight patients with idiopathic oedema were studied. Symptoms and weight variation continued despite the proven absence of diuretics in seven of them as determined by urinary chromatograms. Idiopathic oedema cannot therefore be attributed to diuretic use alone.

Diuretics are pharmacological agents that increase natriuresis through inhibition of tubular re-absorption of sodium. The mechanisms and site of this inhibition differ with each drug class, accounting for their additive effects on natriuresis increase and their hydroelectrolytic side effects. The response to a given diuretic dose depends on the diuretic concentration on the urine at its action ...

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is the most common cause of hospital admission in patients 65 years, accounting for 1 million hospitalizations, 6 million hospital days, and $12 billion in costs annually in the United States alone.1,2 The prognosis of patients admitted with ADHF is dismal, with rates of rehospitalization or death approaching 50% within 6 months.3,4 Despite these alarmin...