Figure 1.

Study design. ^aDuring the 6-week dose titration period, participants who were not taking a loop diuretic at study entry received 80 mg furosemide twice a day for 14 days and then, if the dose was tolerated, they received 120 mg oral furosemide twice a day for 14 days and then, if the dose was tolerated, they received 160 mg oral furosemide twice a day for 14 days. During the 6-week dose titration period, participants who were taking a loop diuretic at study entry received their baseline furosemide dose (or furosemide-equivalent dose for those receiving nonfurosemide loop diuretics) for 14 days. If tolerated, the baseline furosemide dose was increased by 50% for 14 days, and then, if the dose was tolerated, the dose was increased by 50% for 14 days. The maximum dose for any participant was 320 mg/day. During the 12-week follow-up period, participants remained on their maximally tolerated dose from the dose titration period.