title: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) as a systemic disease: whole body autoregulation and inter-organ cross-talk.
abstract: The inter-organ cross-talk and the functional integration of organ systems is an exceedingly complex process which until now has been investigated with a reductionist approach. CKD perturbs the inter-organ cross-talk and demands central resetting of autonomic (nervous) control of organ systems. Due to limitations inherent to the reductionist approach, we currently identify CKD-related pseudo-syndromes and largely fail at describing the complex systemic inter-relationships set into motion by renal damage and renal dysfunction. A mature technology for a system-analysis approach to physiology and pathophysiology of CKD now exists. System biology will allow in depth understanding of complex diseases like CKD and will set the stage for predictive, preventive and personalized medicine, a long-standing dream of doctors and patients alike.
authors.affiliation: CNR National Research Council (Italy) Clinical Epidemiology and Physiopathology of Renal Disease and Hypertension Unit, Ospedali Riuniti Reggio Calabria, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zoccali
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tripepi
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dounousi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mallamaci
mesh_terms: D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*