Water and Electrolyte Metabolism in Congestive Heart Failure

Abstract

The over-all metabolic balance of sodium, chloride and water has been studied in 8 subjects recovering from congestive heart failure. During the release of edema the observed loss of water in excess of sodium and chloride, as they are normally present in extracellular fluid, has suggested that the concept of initial retention of sodium in the development of heart failure may be untenable.