Cation Exchange Resin in the Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure

Electrolyte balances were measured in four edematous cardiac patients receiving cation exchange resin. It was found that such therapy would increase the fecal loss of sodium and, in some of the cases, would result in the loss of edema which had been refractory to other forms of therapy. In these cases the main route of sodium excretion was through the kidneys and not through the intestinal tract. The resin appeared to potentiate the renal action of simultaneously administered mercurial diuretics.