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Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
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Causal Connections From Chronic Kidney Disease to Cardiac Fibrosis

Melanie S Hulshoff1, Sandip K Rath2, Xingbo Xu2

  • 1Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site, Goettingen, Germany; Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Seminars in Nephrology
|November 11, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) significantly increases the risk of heart failure and cardiac fibrosis. Research is exploring the suspected kidney-heart axis to identify potential therapeutic targets for these interconnected conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Cardiology
  • Pathophysiology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  • Kidney function impairment is linked to heart failure and cardiac fibrosis, suggesting a kidney-heart axis.
  • Understanding the mechanisms of this axis is crucial for clinical intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on how kidney injury leads to heart failure and cardiac fibrosis.
  • To highlight the clinical relevance of the kidney-heart axis.
  • To explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting kidney-heart communication.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on the kidney-heart axis.
  • Analysis of studies investigating the link between kidney dysfunction and cardiac outcomes.
  • Synthesis of current understanding of underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Kidney injury is a significant contributor to heart failure and cardiac fibrosis.
  • Evidence supports the existence of a communication pathway (kidney-heart axis) between the kidneys and the heart.
  • Specific kidney-derived factors likely mediate cardiac damage in CKD.

Conclusions:

  • The kidney-heart axis plays a critical role in the progression of cardiovascular complications in CKD patients.
  • Targeting kidney-derived messengers offers a promising therapeutic avenue.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms and develop effective interventions.

Keywords:
Chronic kidney diseaseKlothocardiac fibrosisendothelial-mesenchymal transitionfibroblastsphosphate

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