Use of a combination of anion and cation exchange resins in the treatment of edema and ascites.

A mixture of a carhoxylic acid type of cation exchange resin and a weakly basic anion exchange resin has been used successfully to control the edema of 42 patients wvith congestive heart failure andl the ascites of 14 patients with cirrhosis of the liver. Approximately one-third of the cation exchanger was supplied in the potassium cycle. Inclusion of the anion exchange resin resulted in a greater sodium uptake per gram of resin and apparently decreased the incidence of disturbances in acid-base balance in patients with impaired renal function who were treated with resins.