Archives of General Internal Medicine

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Review Article - Archives of General Internal Medicine (2018) Volume 2, Issue 3

Cardio-Renal Syndrome

Although newer pharmacologic and interventional therapies for the treatment of Heart failure continue to evolve, the optimum strategy of management for the patients with cardio renal syndrome is still unanswered. Various pathophysiologic mechanisms have been proposed including the low output hypothesis and the raised renal venous pressure hypothesis. These mechanisms have been tested and challenged in many trials. Although, modest benefit has been achieved with management strategies targeting these hypotheses. Role of biomolecules and neurohormones such as BNP, adenosine has provided newer insights in mechanisms of Cardio-renal syndrome (CRS). However, when studied in clinical trials, drugs targeting these pathways did not have significant clinical outcomes. Diuretics remain cornerstone of management. But their propensity to cause AKI and electrolyte disturbances when used at higher dosages limits their use. Vasodilator proves of clinical benefit in raised CVP states. But risk of hypotension and constant hemodynamic monitoring preclude their use in many clinical situations. Ultrafiltration had modest success in the initial studies, but recent trials have questioned their role in patients with ADHF. Pharmacologic therapies such as nesiritide, adenosine antagonists and vasopressin antagonists are still in trial phases and benefit has not yet been proved. Thus, our knowledge of CRS still needs depth and understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms which when achieved may result in improved clinical outcomes and patient care. This review article on focuses on pathophysiology and management strategies of patients with CRS.

Author(s): Dhiraj Kumar, Abhijeet Yelale, Girish Sabnis, Hetan Shah, Charan Lanjewar, Prafulla Kerkar

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