From cardiorenal syndrome to nephrocardiology: The journey of exploring the interconnection between nephrology and cardiovascular medicine

Abstract

The knowledge about the pathophysiology of cardiorenal syndrome has evolved remarkably over the past two decades. However, cardiorenal syndrome is only one subject within a much broader field of nephrocardiology, which encompasses the interconnection between nephrology and cardiovascular medicine from nine different standpoints of pathophysiology, epidemiology, prevention, prognosis, diagnosis, therapy, monitoring, risk factors and systemic diseases. The complexities of these nine elements of the interaction between nephrology and cardiovascular medicine are not adequately addressed in either of those two fields of medicine. Nephrocardiology is an emerging field in medicine aiming at addressing those subtleties to improve prognosis and quality of life of a large and vulnerable patient population with combined cardiovascular and nephrology related conditions.