Bumetanide in heart failure in infancy.

The effect of bumetanide in infants with congenital heart disease presenting with cardiac failure was studied. The study was divided into acute (3 days) and long-term (mean 10.5 weeks) cases. A total of 12 male infants was included in the acute study and 13 cases were evaluated in the long-term study. The dose used in the acute study (0.015 mg/kg) was suboptimal; notwithstanding it was found to cause significant natriuresis and chloruresis. Bumetanide in doses varying in different infants from as little as 0.015 mg/kg on alternate days to as much as 0.10 mg/kg daily was shown to be an effective diuretic for long-term use. No side effects were observed in either study.