Diagnostic Usefulness of the Urinary Na/K Ratio and Serum Chloride in Children with Decompensated Heart Failure

Abstract

iuretic treatment of systemic and pulmonary congestion can be ineffective in some patients with HF – a condition commonly referred to as diuretic resistance or refractoriness (Voors et al., 2014). In the current study, we addressed the problem of diuretic resistance. We have been trying to highlight the impact of electrolyte status (mainly serum sodium and chloride) on diuretic effect of furosemide in patients with chronic heart failure. This work was a prospective descriptive study which included 30 patients with congenital left to right shunts and chronic heart failure on long term Furosemide therapy presenting with criteria of decompensated heart failure necessitating an increase in diuretic therapy as a decongestive measure. The study was conducted at Ain Shams University Children’s Hospital during the period from June 2018 till March 2019.