A comparison of the effects of intravenous propranolol and nadolol on the renal response to hypertonic saline infusion.

Intravenous loading with 500 ml of 2.7% saline increased the clearance of PAH and inulin and urine sodium excretion in 14 healthy subjects. Intravenous propranolol (0.075 and 0.15 mg/kg) did not alter PAH or inulin clearance at rest but abolished the increase expected during saline infusion. There was no consistent effect on urinary sodium excretion. Intravenous nadolol (0.05 and 0.75 mg/kg) reduced resting PAH and inulin clearances by up to 25%. Both clearances fell significantly during saline infusion but natriuresis was not significantly reduced in spite of the changes in renal function. There was no evidence from these studies in normal volunteers that nadolol confers any advantages over propranolol in its effects on renal function.