Effects of furosemide on body water compartments in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

We studied the effects of a single dose of intravenous furosemide on the body water compartments of nine infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We measured total body water, extracellular water, and plasma volume using deuterium oxide, sodium bromide, and Evans blue dye, respectively. From the results of these measurements, we calculated cell water, interstitial water, red cell volume, and total blood volume. We performed these measurements on the first day of the study and again 28 h later, 4 h after an intravenous dose of furosemide (1 mg/kg). All infants had a brisk diuresis in the first hour after the dose, but urine output was no greater during the 24-h period after the dose than during the preceding 24-h period. Total body water, extracellular water, and interstitial water were significantly decreased 4 h after furosemide. There was no change in plasma volume, red cell volume, or total blood volume.