[CARDIORENAL SYNDROME: CLINICAL FEATURES, EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT AT FAMILY MEDICINE]

The interdependent damage to the heart and kidney organ systems is defined as cardiorenal syndrome, a complex pathophysiological disorder of the heart and kidney in which acute or chronic dysfunction of one organ can lead to acute or chronic damage to the other. Identification and early diagnosis of some subtypes of cardiorenal syndrome very often begin at family physician office, however, the use of simple and reliable diagnostic procedures such as MICE score using ECG and biomarkers has not been implemented yet. The clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment vary according to the 5 cardiorenal syndrome subtypes, as described herein. Rational diagnosis of heart failure at family medicine office should include biomarkers (BNP and NT-pro BNP) before performing ultrasound of the heart, while for kidneys creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate are still in use, but not cysteine C and NGAL. Diagnostic procedure for suspected heart failure at family medicine office should include kidney function estimate and vice versa. Access to treatment of cardiorenal syndrome differs depending on the specialty to which the patient is referred first, i.e. consultant examination, cardiologist or nephrologist. A multidisciplinary approach to treatment of cardiorenal syndrome is still lacking.