Encephalopathy after furosemide use in nephrotic syndrome

Abstract

An 18-year-old girl with nephrotic syndrome presented with a life-threatening respiratory failure and a severe encephalopathy, shortly after being started on furosemide. The evaluation confirmed furosemide as the sole culprit for the clinical manifestations. This case highlights an unpredictable dose-response relationship of furosemide. The pathophysiological basis, differential diagnosis and clinical implications of the observed findings are discussed. © 2007 The Authors.