Effect of Furosemide on the Clinical Course of Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn

The effect of furosemide on the course of transient tachypnea of the newborn was evaluated in a controlled, prospective study. Fifty infants with transient tachypnea of the newborn were randomly assigned to control or treatment groups. Those in the treatment group were given furosemide, 2 mg/kg orally, at the time of diagnosis followed by 1 mg/kg 12 hours later if the symptoms persisted. Infants in the control group received a placebo. Compared with infants in the control group, the furosemide-treated group demonstrated no significant difference in the duration of tachypnea nor in the length of hospitalization. It is concluded that oral furosemide, at the doses used in this study, does not significantly affect the clinical course of transient tachypnea of the newborn.