ELECTROLYTE AND WATER EXCRETIONS AND RENAL HEMO-DYNAMICS DURING INDUCED CONGESTION OF THE SUPERIOR AND INFERIOR VENA CAVA OF MAN 12

It is apparent that the kidney is the organ ultimately responsible for the salt and water retention, hence the edema formation, in congestive heart failure, but why the kidney fails to excrete these substances normally in this disease state remains to be determined. Venous congestion, and renal venous congestion in particular, has been postulated as one of the factors playing a role in the decreased electrolyte and water excretions. Recent observations in animals and man lend support to this concept.