Volume 27, Issue 6 pp. 960-971
Research Article

Salt repletion and diuretic response: The role of serum chloride. A post-hoc analysis of the SALT-HF trial on furosemide and hypertonic saline solution administration in ambulatory patients with worsening heart failure

Julio Núñez

Corresponding Author

Julio Núñez

Cardiology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia (INCLIVA), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

These authors contributed equally.

Corresponding authors. Julio Núñez, Cardiology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia (INCLIVA), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Email: [email protected]

Marta Cobo Marcos, Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain. Email: [email protected]

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Gema Miñana

Gema Miñana

Cardiology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia (INCLIVA), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

These authors contributed equally.

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Rafael de la Espriella

Rafael de la Espriella

Cardiology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia (INCLIVA), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) Cardiovascular, Madrid, Spain

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Isabel Zegrí-Reiriz

Isabel Zegrí-Reiriz

Cardiology Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain

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Josep Comín-Colet

Josep Comín-Colet

Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) Cardiovascular, Madrid, Spain

Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain

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Jorge Rubio Gracia

Jorge Rubio Gracia

Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitario Lozano Blesa, University of Zaragoza, Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain

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Jose Luis Morales-Rull

Jose Luis Morales-Rull

Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova, Heart Failure Unit, Lleida Health Region, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Spain

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Pau Llàcer

Pau Llàcer

Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, and Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain

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Pablo Diez-Villanueva

Pablo Diez-Villanueva

Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain

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Javier de Juan Bagudá

Javier de Juan Bagudá

Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) Cardiovascular, Madrid, Spain

Cardiology Department, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (Imas12), Madrid, and Department of Medicine, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Science, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

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Carolina Ortiz Cortés

Carolina Ortiz Cortés

Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario San Pedro de Alcántara, Cáceres, Spain

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Josebe Goirigolzarri-Artaza

Josebe Goirigolzarri-Artaza

Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain

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Jose Manuel García-Pinilla

Jose Manuel García-Pinilla

Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) Cardiovascular, Madrid, Spain

Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica-Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, and Departamento de Medicina y Dermatología, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain

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Elvira Barrios

Elvira Barrios

Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario Rey Juan Carlos Móstoles, Madrid, Spain

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Susana del Prado Díaz

Susana del Prado Díaz

Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) Cardiovascular, Madrid, Spain

Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain

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Santiago Jiménez-Marrero

Santiago Jiménez-Marrero

Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) Cardiovascular, Madrid, Spain

Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain

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Maria Alejandra Restrepo-Córdoba

Maria Alejandra Restrepo-Córdoba

Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain

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Jeffrey Testani

Jeffrey Testani

Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

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Marta Cobo Marcos

Corresponding Author

Marta Cobo Marcos

Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain

Corresponding authors. Julio Núñez, Cardiology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia (INCLIVA), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Email: [email protected]

Marta Cobo Marcos, Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain. Email: [email protected]

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First published: 11 February 2025
Citations: 4

ABSTRACT

Aims

The efficacy of combining hypertonic saline solution (HSS) with loop diuretics in worsening heart failure (WHF) remains uncertain. Hypochloraemia has been associated with reduced diuretic efficacy. Some authors propose that chloride repletion may enhance natriuretic and diuretic responses. This post-hoc analysis of the SALT-HF trial evaluated the effect of single-dose administration of HSS plus intravenous (IV) furosemide versus IV furosemide, stratified by baseline serum chloride.

Methods and results

The analysis included 148 ambulatory patients with WHF from the double-blind, randomized SALT-HF trial. Participants received either an IV single dose of HSS plus furosemide or IV furosemide. The endpoints were 3-h urinary sodium excretion and diuresis, 7-day congestion score, and 30-day adverse events according to chloride levels. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models assessed the relationship between the intervention and the endpoints. The mean baseline serum chloride level was 100 ± 4 mmol/L. Sixteen patients (10.8%) were identified as hypochloraemic (serum chloride <96 mmol/L), balanced between treatment groups. Patients with hypochloraemia showed a lower natriuretic response (p < 0.05). Interaction analysis revealed a between-treatment differential natriuretic effect based on the chloride levels (pinteraction = 0.008). HSS plus furosemide increased natriuresis compared to furosemide at lower chloride levels. No differential between-treatment effect was found for 3-h diuresis. Similar heterogeneous results were found for the 7-day clinical congestion score and 30-day heart failure events, with a benefit with HSS in patients with lower chloride levels.

Conclusion

In ambulatory patients with WHF and hypochloraemia, adding HSS to furosemide may improve short-term natriuretic response and outcomes. These findings suggest that chloride supplementation may help overcome diuretic resistance in these patients.

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