Renal dysfunction in cardiovascular diseases – from molecular to clinical level

The heart and kidneys are vital for maintaining cardiovascular (CV) homeostasis, with the heart supplying blood and oxygen to organs, and the kidneys maintain fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance, erythropoetin production, and waste removal. In healthy individuals, renal hemodynamics affect cardiac hemodynamics and vice versa. When cardiovascular and kidney diseases coexist, it may lead to cardiorenal syndromes (CRS), where dysfunction in one organ triggers the dysfunction in the other [4]. Studies have shown that majority of patients affected by cardiovascular disease usually display some kind of kidney damage of different extent. Renal dysfunction in CV diseases often results from hemodynamic changes and neurohormonal activity. Shared risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, smoking, inflammation, anemia, and malnutrition, further complicate these interactions. In this paper we discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms lying behind the acute renal injury and chronic kidney disease in cardiovascular diseases.