[Depletive treatment of uncompensated liver cirrhosis with high doses of spirolactone only].

In most regimens proposed for the depletive management of cirrhosis of the liver, spirolactone is associated with other diuretics. Treatment of 28 patients with uncompensated forms by means of spirolactone only, using high, protracted doses determined essentially in accordance with the depletion obtained, is described. The disappearance of signs of water retention was gradual and unattended by difficulties. Normalisation of the urinary Na/K ratio preceded the diuretic response; Increased diuresis led to a slight increase in urinary potassium/day. Higher doses were used in patients with lower urinary Na/K ratios. Here a critical diuretic response was only obtained around the 5th day. Transient low blood sodium and chlorine and high blood potassium were noted; the last parameter was not related to the drug dose, nor to changes in Bun; No marked changes in blood uric acid, calcium, ammonium, bilirubin or sugar were observed.