Nesiritide Does Not Improve Renal Function in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure and Worsening Serum Creatinine

15 patients with decompensated heart failure, mild chronic renal insufficiency, and worsening serum creatinine (recent mean baseline creatinine 1.5+/-0.4 mg/dL, admission creatinine 1.8+/-0.8 mg/dL).

Nesiritide (2 microg/kg IV bolus followed by an infusion of 0.01 microg/kg per minute) for 24 hours

Placebo for 24 hours (crossover design)

Glomerular filtration rate (measured by iothalamate clearance), renal plasma flow (measured by para-amino hippurate clearance), urinary sodium excretion, and urine outputsurrogate