I. Indications
II. Renal Physiology
III. Individual Diuretics

GLOSSARY
arrhythmia general term for an irregularity or rapidity of the
heartbeat, an abnormal heart rhythm. electrolytes sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium
levels in the blood. heart failure failure of the heart to pump sufficient blood from
the chambers into the aorta; inadequate supply of blood
reaches organs and tissues. gynecomastia enlargement of the breast, usually seen in men. hypertension high blood pressure.

• I. INDICATIONS
  A. Hypertension
• II. RENAL PHYSIOLOGY
  Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the nephron. It is important for readers to have some knowledge of the fluid and electrolyte balance of the body which is maintained in a constant state by the automatic electronic filtration system provided by the kidney. Each human kidney contains approximately one million nephrons. Each nephron is a mini filter that includes a glomerulus that contains a group of capillary blood vessels. The primary duty of the glomerulus is excretion of water and solutes. A considerable amount of sodium and water passes from the glomerulus into the renal tubule and then a substantial amount of sodium and water and other electrolytes must be reabsorbed into the circulation in correct proportions to maintain the constancy of the body fluids. The primary duty of the renal tubules are the retention and conserva¬tion of water and essential electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. The tubules have a secretory function that removes a vast quantity of water from the tubules and returns the fluid, sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes in correct proportions to the circulating blood. This normal physiologic activity is inhibited by diuretics.
• III. INDIVIDUAL DIURETICS
  The generic and trade names of available diuretics are given in Table 1.
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
  Bloomfield, D. M., Steinman, R. C., Namerow, P. B. et al. Microvolt T-wave alternans distinguishes between patients likely and patients not likely to benefit from implanted cardiac defibrillator therapy: A solution to the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial (MADIT) II Conundrum. Circulation, 110:1885–1889, 2004.