Study of the protective effect of methylprednisolone, furosemide, and mannitol on ischemically damaged kidneys.

Canine kidneys subjected to 90 min of warm ischemia (37 degrees C) were protected by the administration of methylprednisolone but not by furosemide or mannitol. There was no protective effect observed through the vasodilating or diuretic effect of furosemide in the ischemic canine kidney. Mannitol-induced diuresis before warm ischemia also did not prove to be beneficial for severely ischemic kidneys. Methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) given 2 h prior to warm ischemia prevented irreversible kidney damage observed in the control and experimental groups. By day 8 the serum creatinine and creatinine clearance returned to normal levels.