Figure 1

Schematic diagram of the effect of DPI. (a) and (c): Among two paths between ML and SOB (ML-SOB, ML-HD-SOB), ML-SOB was eliminated by applying DPI (shown as 1 in table 1). (b) and (d): Similarly, among two paths between HF and SOB (HF-SOB, HF-HD-SOB), HF-HD-SOB was eliminated by applying DPI (shown as 6 in table 1). (e) Combining evidence from (c) and (d), the path between ML-SOB would more likely to be ML-HD-HF-SOB. ML: Metolazone; HD: Hypertensive Disease; HF: Hear Failure; SOB: Shortness of Breath.