Chronic kidney disease and congestive heart failure management: cardionephrologist's role

Abstract

Kidney is mainly involved in fluid and electrolytes homeostasis, as well as in toxins knockout. Kidney function seems to be strictly related to heart and cardiovascular asset and ‘cardiorenal syndrome’ is now used to identify clinical correlation between heart and kidney disease. Chronic heart failure (CHF) represent first cause of hospitalization in western countries; CHF patients often present with mild to severe chronic kidney disease (CKD). Many physiological and pathophysiological pathways are postulated to explain how CKD can affect CHF prognosis and vice-versa. cGMP and NO - cGMP axis could be involved in pathogenesis of CHF in CKD patients together with natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP) and phosphodiesterases control. Patients with CHF need to be treated for their chronic volume overload. First choice therapy is undoubtedly diuretic therapy, often with association between different kinds of drugs (such as thiazides and loop diuretics). Ultrafiltration excorporeal treatments are usually indicated in those patients not responding to massive diuretic treatments and they are often employed as complementary treatment in patients with refractory CHF.  (Cardionephrology)