Area Editoriale
To verify prospectively the usefulness of the furosemide-inducednatriuresis test in predicting ascites control by medical treatment, 15 stablecirrhotics (9 male) with ascites were studied. Sodium excretion was measuredafter this test and after volume expansion with saline associated withintravenous infusion of octreotide; 6 months later, response to medicaltreatment was rated as good (N=9) or poor (N=6). Patients with poor ascitescontrol had lower sodium excretion with the furosemide-induced natriuresis test(median, 88 vs 201 mmol; P < 0.01). Poor control was observed in four offour patients with sodium excretion 175 mmol (P < 0.002). Volumeexpansion was followed by limited natriuresis (median, 20 mmol), in inverserelationship with plasma active renin concentration (P < 0.001). Inconclusion, long-term ascites control is well predicted by thefurosemide-induced natriuresis test. Leggil'articolo