Cardiologia Croatica, Vol. 6 No. 9-10, 2011.
Review article
Renal dysfunction and anemia in patients with heart failure — the cardio-renal anemia syndrome
Daniela Malić
; University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Sanja Matijević
orcid.org/0000-0003-0627-2114
; University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Ivan Bubić
; University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Sanjin Rački
; University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Luka Zaputović
orcid.org/0000-0001-9415-9618
; University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause
of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease.
The appearance of cardiovascular complications is
strongly in positive correlation with the severity of kidney disease.
About 40% of patients with moderate or severe kidney
disease and even 60% of patients in the terminal phase have
some degree of chronic heart failure. “The Cardio-Renal Syndrome”
represents a variety of pathophysiological abnormalities
of the heart and kidney, where acute or chronic dysfunction
of one organ may provoke acute or chronic dysfunction of
the other organ. Renal impairment and anemia are frequent in
heart failure patients and negatively influence the quality of
life and life expectancy. The coexistence of these three conditions
has been described as “The Cardio-Renal Anemia Syndrome”
(CRAS). Although the syndrome has been generally
defined, there are no guidelines for CRAS diagnosis and treatment,
and management of patients mostly depends on the specialty
of the physician met first. Currently, anemia in CRAS
must be treated according to the guidelines for anemia in
chronic kidney disease. After several smaller clinical trials
with encouraging results, larger ongoing cinical investigations
will elucidate the real importance of anemia management in
patients with heart failure. By the time specific guidelines for
CRAS management are published, there will be a need for
multidisciplinary approach, based on the existing separate guidelines
for all components of the syndrome.
Keywords
heart failure; kidney diseases; renal insufficiency; anemia
Hrčak ID:
71837
URI
Publication date:
20.9.2011.
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