Influence of indomethacin on the natriuretic and renin-stimulating effect of bumetanide in essential hypertension

The effect of bumetanide on absolute and fractional sodium excretion, creatinine clearance, and plasma renin activity (PRA) was studied in eight patients with essential hypertension before and after indomethacin. After bumetanide, urinary sodium excretion increased only in the first 4 hr, creatinine clearance only in the first 2 hr, and PRA rose progressively. After indomethacin, bumetanide caused a smaller increase in urinary sodium excretion, decreased creatinine clearance, and caused a small early and late PRA rise. Prostaglandin inhibition and indomethacin did not, per se, affect the tubular natriuretic mechanism but they abolished both early vascular and sustained PRA-stimulating effects of bumetanide.