Exchangeable potassium in heart disease: Long-term effects of potassium supplements and amiloride

Patients with heart disease not requiring treatment with diuretics did not show depletion of body potassium expressed as Ke/Kg. LBM. Patients treated with furosemide (80 mg. daily) and potassium supplements (48 mEq. daily) were depleted of potassium. Treatment with 10 mg. of amiloride daily was as effective as 48 mEq. of potassium supplements in maintaining body potassium. No side effects of the drug were noted but there was a significant reduction in serum uric acid after two months on the combined regimen of furosemide and amiloride. No useful correlation was found between serum potassium or red cell potassium and Ke.