A comparison of the diuretic effects of prostaglandin A1, sodium ethacrynate, and placebo.

The comparative diuretic activity of prostaglandin A1 (PGA1), sodium ethacrynate, and placebo was assessed in healthy volunteers. Known active dosages of the various agents were administered as intravenous infusions. In the first four hours after the start of the infusion, the ratio of urine output to liquid intake was higher for sodium ethacrynate than either PGA1 or placebo. Sodium ethacrynate was the only treatment which significantly changed urinary electrolyte excretion. At the doses administered in this study, sodium ethacrynate was more effective as a diuretic than either PGA1 or placebo. PGA1 and placebo exerted nearly identical effects upon the variables studied. This study suggests that PGA1 may be effective only in the presence of altered distribution of blood flow in renal disturbances where tubular functions are involved in maintaining electrolyte excretion.