The renal response to left atrial balloon inflation in normal dogs was compared with that in dogs with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF was induced by the production of an aortocaval fistula below the level of the renal arteries. CHF dogs showed elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, enlarged hearts, a depression of myocardial contractility, pulmonary edema, ascites, and peripheral edema. They also showed significant decreases in urine flow, creatinine clearance, para-aminohippurate clearance, sodium and potassium excretion, fractional sodium excretion, osmolar clearance, arterial blood pressure, and heart rate. Balloon distension of the left atrium evoked a significant increase in urine flow and free-water clearance in the normal group. The reflex nature of this response was indicated by its blockade after bilateral cervical vagotomy. In contrast, the CHF group did not exhibit significant changes in urine flow or free-water clearance during balloon inflation. Plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was significantly elevated in the CHF group; however, balloon distension reduced plasma ADH in both groups of dogs. Plasma renin activity was significantly elevated in the CHF dogs and was not changed by balloon distension in either group of dogs. It is concluded that animals with high-output CHF do not exhibit the atrial-diuretic reflex in spite of their ability to reduce ADH levels by atrial distension.
