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  • Title: [Effect of captopril therapy on sodium and water excretion in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites].
    Author: Brunkhorst R, Wrenger E, Kühn K, Schmidt FW, Koch K.
    Journal: Klin Wochenschr; 1989 Aug 01; 67(15):774-83. PubMed ID: 2671477.
    Abstract:
    UNLABELLED: Ascites in patients with cirrhosis of the liver frequently is refractory to diuretic treatment. It was postulated that vasoconstriction of the renal cortex, mediated by activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system (RAAS), may be one course of the disturbed sodium- and water-excretion in these patients. We therefore investigated in 14 cirrhotic patients with ascites under constant diuretic treatment the effects of low-dose captopril therapy on urinary sodium- and potassium-excretion, body weight, abdominal girth, serum-sodium, -potassium, creatinine-clearance, plasma-renin-activity (PRA), plasma-aldosterone (PA) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). After a control period of 4 days the patients received 2 x 6.25 mg/d captopril for 5 days and 4 x 6.25 mg/d for further 5 days. Treatment was followed by a second control period without captopril. PRA increased significantly after 2 days of captopril treatment. 2 x 6.25 mg/d captopril induced a significant increase in sodium excretion and a significant decrease of body weight. MAP decreased slightly but significantly without clinical signs of hypotension. 4 x 6.25 mg/d captopril resulted in a further reduction of body weight and a further enhancement of sodium excretion. Three days after withdrawal of captopril sodium output was significantly reduced again. CONCLUSION: In cirrhotic patients low-dose captopril seems to be efficient in the treatment of ascites resistant to diuretics without causing major side effects.
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