Cardiorenal Syndrome: Biomarkers Linking Kidney Damage with Heart Failure

Abstract

All the vital organs of the body share information by virtue of various biological mediators. Primary pathology of a major organ can lead to dysfunction of the other. Cardiorenal syndrome is an important example of such organ crosstalk. Primary dysfunction of the heart or kidney can lead to injury of the other organ. As molecular injury occurs prior to clinical dysfunction, effective interventions can be planned if one can detect this organ dysfunction at an earlier stage by virtue of some biological markers. Such biomarkers can be substances in urine, serum, imaging maneuvers or any other quantifiable parameters. Some currently available biomarkers are not sensitive enough to provide timely diagnosis of the disorder. An important research priority is the development of newer biomarkers or a panel of biomarkers for the early diagnosis of organ dysfunction, as well as nature of injury, guidance for therapeutic interventions and prognosis. Many newer biomarkers have been studied for both heart and kidney dysfunction. This article focuses on newer biomarkers for the cardiorenal syndrome.

KEYWORDS::

• acute kidney injury
• biomarkers
• cardiorenal syndrome
• heart failure

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Sachin S Soni is supported by a fellowship grant by International Society of Nephrology. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

Sachin S Soni is supported by a fellowship grant by International Society of Nephrology. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.