Anaemia and the cardio-renal syndrome
Chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are progressive, debilitating diseases that damage patients’ quality of life and often result in premature death.1
- Renal dysfunction is a common comorbidity of CHF, and CKD is also associated with high risks of cardiovascular events.2
- Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) can be defined as “disorders of the heart and kidneys whereby acute or chronic dysfunction in one organ may induce acute or chronic dysfunction of the other organ.”1
Anaemia often occurs in both CHF and CKD.2 The presence of anaemia in CRS is associated with further disease progression, contributing to a ‘vicious cycle’ of deteriorating health (see illustration) – the cardiorenal anaemia syndrome (CRAS).3
This web site provides educational resources regarding CRAS, the role played by iron deficiency anaemia and the need for new therapeutic approaches to help improve patients’ lives.
References
1. Ronco C et al. Eur Heart J31:703–711
2. Kazory A and Ross EA. J Am Coll Cardiol 2009;53:639–47
3. Silverberg DS et al. Clin Nephrol 2002;58 Suppl 1:S37–45
