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This book provides a comprehensive update analysis of our most recent understanding of cardiorenal syndrome, including epidemiology, pathophysiologic mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches. Recent data suggest that managing cardiorenal syndrome requires aggressive control of traditional risk factors, as well novel approaches to prevent or reverse uremia-related processes.

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Chronic kidney disease with a worldwide prevalence of 10% in the general population is emerging as a major public health priority. Renal dysfunction is associated with a high risk for cardiovascular complications. The relationship between renal insufficiency and cardiovascular disease, termed the cardiorenal syndrome exists whether impairment of renal function is a consequence of primary renal parenchymal disease or primary heart disease.

Several pathophysiologic mechanisms have been postulated to explain the relationship between renal dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Recent studies indicate an integrated response of the vascular smooth muscles and glomerular mesangial cells to traditional and uremia related cardiovascular risk factors. Traditional risk factors can incite renal impairment and cardiac damage. As renal function deteriorates, uremia-related risk factors play an increasing role both in reduction in glomerular filtration rate and cardiovascular damage. Several uremia related factors such as uncontrolled hypertension, disturbed glucose insulin metabolism, microalbuminuria, phosphate retention, secondary hyperparathyroidism, myocardial and vascular calcification, hypertensive-uremic cardiomyopathy, inflammation, oxidant injury, and neurohormonal dysregulation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the cardiorenal syndrome. Recent data suggest that management of the cardiorenal syndrome requires aggressive control of traditional risk factors as well novel approaches to prevent or reverse uremia -related processes.

This book provides a comprehensive update analysis of our current understanding of the cardiorenal syndrome including epidemiology, pathophysiologic mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches.

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Introduction: Links between chronic kidney (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD): a bidirectional relationship.- Cross talk between the cardiovascular system and the kidney: Structural and functional similarities between vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and glomerular mesangial cells (GMC). Regulation of VSMC and GMC by common mediators in health and disease.- Chronic kidney as a risk for the development of cardiovascular disease: Epidemiologic links between impaired renal function and cardiovascular events. Definition and classification of stages of severity of CKD. Classification of cardiovascular risk factors in CKD. Spectrum of CVD in CKD. Mechanisms of cardiovascular complications in CKD.- Cardiovascular disease as a promoter of CKD: Mechanisms. Prognostic significance.- Therapeutic modalities.

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From the reviews:
"The first book to bring together information on this important and recently named entity, cardiorenal syndrome. ... Nephrologists, cardiologists, and trainees in both specialties can benefit from the information presented in this book ... . The book presents a novel concept regarding the structural and functional similarities between vascular smooth muscle cells and glomerular mesangial cells. ... This is an important contribution since it is the first one to comprehensively address this frontier between nephrology and cardiology." (Mony Fraer, Doody´s Review Service, April, 2011)

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