URODILATIN (INN, ULARITIDE) AS A NEW DRUG FOR THE THERAPY OF ACUTE-RENAL-FAILURE FOLLOWING CARDIAC-SURGERY

1. Acute renal failure is a severe complication following major cardia c surgery. 2. The effects of urodilatin were evaluated in a randomized , double-blind trial in patients suffering from incipient acute renal failure following cardiac surgery. 3. In the urodilatin group (n = 7) acute renal failure was reverted, whereas in the placebo group (n = 7) six patients had to be haemofiltered or haemodialysed (P < 0.005). 4. Urodilatin induced a rapid onset of diuresis in contrast to placebo-t reated patients, who remained oliguric. 5. In the placebo group four o f seven patients died while still on haemodialysis (mortality rate 57. 1%) during a postoperative follow-up period of 60 days, while all pati ents treated with urodilatin survived. 6. On the basis of these result s it would appear that urodilatin is an effective drug for the treatme nt of incipient oliguric acute renal failure following cardiac surgery and for avoiding haemodialysis/haemofiltration.