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Structural formulae of the potassium-sparing diuretics. Click to enlarge.

Potassium-sparing diuretics refers to drugs that cause diuresis without causing potassium loss in the urine and leading to hypokalemia [1]. They are typically used as an adjunct in management of hypertension, cirrhosis, and congestive heart failure [2]. The steroidal aldosterone antagonists can also be used for treatment of primary hyperaldosteronism. Spironolactone, a steroidal aldosterone antagonist, is also used in management of female hirsutism and acne from PCOS or other causes [3] [4].

Types of Potassium-Sparing Diuretics

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Mechanism of action

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Normally, sodium is reabsorbed in the collecting tubules of a renal nephron. This occurs via epithelial sodium channels or ENaCs, located on luminal surface of principal cells that line the collecting tubules. Positively-charged Na+ entering the cells leads to an electronegative luminal environment causing the secretion of potassium (K+) into the lumen/ urine in exchange [7]. Sodium reabsorption also causes water retention.

When the kidneys detect low blood pressure, RAAS (renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system) is activated and eventually aldosterone is secreted. Aldosterone binds to aldosterone receptors (mineralocorticoid receptors) increasing sodium reabsorption in an effort to increase blood pressure and improve fluid status in the body. When excessive sodium reabsorption occurs, there is increasing loss of K+ in the urine and can lead to clinically significant decreases, termed hypokalemia. Increased sodium reabsorption also increases water retention.

Potassium-sparing diuretics act to prevent sodium reabsorption in the collecting tubule by either binding ENaCs (amiloride, triamterene) or by inhibiting aldosterone receptors (spironolactone, eplerenone). This prevents excessive excretion of K+ in urine and decreased retention of water, preventing hypokalemia [8].

Because these diuretics are weakly natriuretic, they do not cause clinically significant blood pressure changes and thus, are not used as primary therapy for hypertension [9]. They can be used in combination with other anti-hypertensives or drugs that cause hypokalemia to help maintain a normal reference range for potassium. For example, they are often used as an adjunct to loop diuretics (usually furosemide) to treat fluid retention in congestive heart failure and ascites in cirrhosis [10].

Adverse effects

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On their own this group of drugs may raise potassium levels beyond the normal range, termed hyperkalemia, which risks potentially fatal arrhythmias. Triamterene, specifically, is a potential nephrotoxin and up to half of the patients on it can have crystalluria or urinary casts [11]. Spironolactone can cause gynecomastia, menstrual abnormalities, impotence, and decreased libido by binding non-selective estrogen and progesterone receptors [12]

Other diuretics

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While not classically considered potassium-sparing diuretics, ACE inhibitors (ACEis) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are anti-hypertensive drugs with diuretic effects that decrease renal excretion of potassium. They work by inhibiting either the production (ACEis) or effects (ARBs) of angiotensin 2. This results in a decrease in aldosterone release, which causes potassium-sparing-diuretic-like effects similar to those of the aldosterone antagonists, spironolactone and eplerenone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Rose B. D. (1991). Diuretics. Kidney international, 39(2), 336–352. https://doi.org/10.1038/ki.1991.43
  2. ^ Weber, K. T., & Villarreal, D. (1993). Aldosterone and antialdosterone therapy in congestive heart failure. The American journal of cardiology, 71(3), 3A–11A. https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9149(93)90238-8
  3. ^ Martin, K. A., Anderson, R. R., Chang, R. J., Ehrmann, D. A., Lobo, R. A., Murad, M. H., Pugeat, M. M., & Rosenfield, R. L. (2018). Evaluation and Treatment of Hirsutism in Premenopausal Women: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 103(4), 1233–1257. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2018-00241
  4. ^ Grandhi, R., & Alikhan, A. (2017). Spironolactone for the Treatment of Acne: A 4-Year Retrospective Study. Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland), 233(2-3), 141–144. https://doi.org/10.1159/000471799
  5. ^ Sica, D. A., & Gehr, T. W. (1989). Triamterene and the kidney. Nephron, 51(4), 454–461. https://doi.org/10.1159/000185375
  6. ^ Lainscak, M., Pelliccia, F., Rosano, G., Vitale, C., Schiariti, M., Greco, C., Speziale, G., & Gaudio, C. (2015). Safety profile of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: Spironolactone and eplerenone. International journal of cardiology, 200, 25–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2015.05.127
  7. ^ Rose B. D. (1991). Diuretics. Kidney international, 39(2), 336–352. https://doi.org/10.1038/ki.1991.43
  8. ^ Horisberger, J. D., & Giebisch, G. (1987). Potassium-sparing diuretics. Renal physiology, 10(3-4), 198–220. https://doi.org/10.1159/000173130
  9. ^ Hropot, M., Fowler, N., Karlmark, B., & Giebisch, G. (1985). Tubular action of diuretics: distal effects on electrolyte transport and acidification. Kidney international, 28(3), 477–489. https://doi.org/10.1038/ki.1985.154
  10. ^ Hropot, M., Fowler, N., Karlmark, B., & Giebisch, G. (1985). Tubular action of diuretics: distal effects on electrolyte transport and acidification. Kidney international, 28(3), 477–489. https://doi.org/10.1038/ki.1985.154
  11. ^ Fairley, K. F., Woo, K. T., Birch, D. F., Leaker, B. R., & Ratnaike, S. (1986). Triamterene-induced crystalluria and cylinduria: clinical and experimental studies. Clinical nephrology, 26(4), 169–173.
  12. ^ Veeregowda, S. H., Krishnamurthy, J. J., Krishnaswamy, B., & Narayana, S. (2018). Spironolactone-Induced Unilateral Gynecomastia. International journal of applied & basic medical research, 8(1), 45–47. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijabmr.IJABMR_399_16
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Category:Potassium-sparing diuretics Category:Cardiology