@article{RokutanSuckowvonHaehlingetal.2012,
  author    = {Rokutan, Hirofumi and Suckow, Christian and von H{\"a}hling, Stephan and Strassburg, Sabine and Bockmeyer, Barbara and D{\"o}hner, Wolfram and Waller, Christiane and Bauersachs, Johann and von Websky, Karoline and Hocher, Berthold and Anker, Stefan D. and Springer, Jochen},
  title     = {Furosemide induces mortality in a rat model of chronic heart failure},
  series = {International journal of cardiology},
  volume    = {160},
  journal   = {International journal of cardiology},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Clare},
  issn      = {0167-5273},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.ijcard.2011.03.005},
  pages     = {20 -- 25},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Objectives: In an experimental heart failure model, we tested the hypothesis that furosemide causes excess mortality. Background: Post-hoc analysis of large clinical heart failure trails revealed that furosemide treatment might be associated with worsening of morbidity and even mortality in heart failure patients. Methods and results: Myocardial infarction was induced in 7 +/- 1 week old male Wistar rats by ligation of the left coronary artery. In study 1, animals were randomly assigned to treatment with furosemide (10 mg/kg/d via drinking water, n = 33) or placebo (n = 33) starting 18 days after surgery. In study 2, animals received furosemide from day 18 and were then randomized to ongoing treatment with either furosemide only (n = 38) or furosemide plus ACE-inhibitor Ramipril (1 mg/kg/d, n = 38) starting on day 42. In study 1 survival rate in the furosemide group was lower than in the placebo group (hazard ratio {HR} 3.39, 95\% confidence interval {CI} 1.14 to 10.09, p = 0.028). The furosemide group had a lower body weight (-6\%, p = 0.028) at the end of the study and a higher sclerosis index of the glomeruli (+9\%, p=0.026) than the placebo group. Wet lung weight, infarct size, and cardiac function were similar between the groups. In study 2, the furosemide group had a higher mortality rate than the furosemide + ramipril group (HR 4.55, 95\% CI 2.0 to 10.0, p = 0.0003). Conclusion: In our rat model of heart failure furosemide, provided at a standard dose, was associated with increased mortality. This increased mortality could be prevented by additional administration of an ACE-inhibitor.},
  language  = {en}
}