Acute effects of furosemide on left ventricular contractility in dogs.

The acute effects of the intravenous administration of large doses of furosemide on the left ventricle were studied in a controlled open-chest dog preparation. The data revealed that there was no direct effect of furosemide on the ventricular myocardium. This suggests that any acute cardiovascular effects seen clinically after the use of furosemide would most likely be due to changes in the effective circulating blood volume, direct effects upon certain vascular beds, electrolyte alterations, and possible secondary reflex cardiovascular effects rather than to any direct cardiac effects.