Effect of bile infusion on the dog kidney.

Infusion of small amounts of bile in a series of dogs produced natriuresis and diuresis apparently due to decrease in proximal tubular resorption of sodium and water. Such losses of sodium and water, if continued, would produce some degree of hypovolemia, and extracellular-fluid deficit. Chronic studies are now in progress to clarify this point. The finding of unsuspected hypovolemia in jaundiced patients suggests that this mechanism may be operative in the human kidney exposed to elevated bilirubin levels. The importance of replacement of blood and extracellular-fluid volume before and during surgery in jaundiced patients is stressed.