Renal dysfunction: a novel indicator and potential promoter of cardiovascular risk.
Epidemiological studies have defined a number of risk factors predicting cardiovascular events, including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus and smoking. Renal dysfunction, however, has only recently been included among the strongest predictors of cardiovascular risk. The increment in risk is already apparent in the early stages of borderline renal dysfunction, for example low rates of albumin excretion (microalbuminuria) and minor decrease of creatinine clearance. The information is incomplete, but a number of potential mechanisms have been identified through which renal dysfunction may increase the cardiovascular risk. Great progress has been made in providing algorithms to detect patients at risk and to identify interventions to reduce the risk.
Ritz
Eberhard
E
Department of Internal Medicine, Ruperto Carola University, Heidelberg, Germany. Prof.E.Ritz@t-online.de
D000419:Albuminuria / Q000150:complications; D000465:Algorithms; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D003404:Creatinine