Effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition on sodium excretion in patients with hypoxaemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

18 patients total: 6 with stable hypoxaemic COPD (PaO2 < 8.0 kPa) and a history of an oedematous exacerbation, 6 with similar severity of hypoxaemic COPD for repeatability assessment, and 6 with mild COPD for comparison.

Perindopril 4 mg/day oral for one month, followed by an intravenous hypertonic saline load (6 ml/kg body weight of 2.7% saline over one hour).

Baseline (before perindopril treatment) and a comparison group of patients with mild COPD.

Urinary volume and sodium excretion over four hours after hypertonic saline load.surrogate