Renal consequences of valvular heart disease

Three aspects of potential renal involvement in patients with valvular heart disease are discussed. These include (1) disturbances in renal salt and water handling and their implications with respect to diuretic management; (2) the hemodynamic effects of angiographic contrast agents with identification of potentially dangerous effects on the kidneys; and (3) the histologic patterns of bacterial endocarditis in the kidney and their similarity to those of immunologically mediated disease.