[Bumetanide in renal insufficiency].

Intravenous bumetanide was tested in patients with cardiac and renal failure with creatinine clearance below 12 ml/min. Water diuresis and natriuresis occur 2 or 3 hours after the injection, this delayed activity of the drug being due to renal insufficiency. The loss of potassium caused by the diuretic is slight. Bumetanide is effective at the level of the Henle loop. The rise in filtered sodium excretion suggests that the drug may have an action on the distal tubule. One patient with pericarditis and terminal renal failure (creatinine clearance 2 ml/min) did not respond to bumetanide.