| Abstract: | Beta-adrenergic blockade by oral propanolol in five cirrhotic patients caused changes in the handling of an acute sodium load. Fractional sodium excretion following an acute saline load increased from 0.69% +/- 0.29 to 1.49% +/- 0.11 (103 microEq/min +/- 7.5 to 129 microEq/min +/- 18) before propranolol administration. After 3 days of oral propanolol 1 mg/kg day, the fractional excretion of sodium by saline loading increased from 0.52% +/- 0.19 to 2.17 +/- 0.19 (109 microEq/min +/- 9 to 178 microEq/min +/- 11). This change was not accompanied by changes in GFR, RPF or in the renin-aldosterone system. The possibility that these changes are caused by a change in the sodium transport at the tubular cell level induced by the beta-adrenergic blockade, is entertained. |
