[Increase in absolute atmospheric pressure in hyperbaric chamber in cirrhosis with ascites: lack of natriuretic response and increase of atrial natriuretic peptide].

What Researchers Did

Researchers investigated whether increased atmospheric pressure in a hyperbaric chamber could induce diuresis and natriuresis in five sodium-retaining cirrhotic patients.

What They Found

They found that a 4-hour stay at 2-ATA in a hyperbaric chamber did not induce diuresis, natriuresis, or an increase in atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) plasma concentration in these patients. Baseline levels of plasma renin activity (15.5 +/- 11.5 ng/ml/h), aldosterone (808.4 +/- 360 pg/ml), and ANP (86 +/- 10.1 pg/ml) were significantly elevated before hyperbaric exposure.

Canadian Relevance

The study was not conducted in Canada and has no direct Canadian connection.

Study Limitations

A significant limitation of this study is the very small sample size of only five patients.