DOSE-RESPONSE STUDY OF INTRAVENOUS TORSEMIDE IN CONGESTIVE-HEART-FAILURE

In a double-blind dose-response study, 49 patients with New York Heart Association functional class III or IV heart failure were randomized to receive a single intravenous dose of 5, 10, or 20 mg torsemide or 4 0 mg furosemide. Torsemide produced dose-related decreases in body wei ght and increases in sodium and chloride excretion and urine volume. W ith the 20 mg dose of torsemide and the 40 mg dose of furosemide, body weight decreased significantly relative to baseline, and total and fr actional 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium, chloride, and potassium and urine volume increased significantly. The 10 mg torsemide dose als o produced a significant increase in urine volume. The results indicat e that intravenous torsemide is effective for the acute treatment of s odium and fluid retention resulting from moderate to severe congestive heart failure.