In health, the relationship between the kidneys and the heart
reveals itself to be one of mutual interdependence. Up to one
quarter of cardiac output goes straight to the kidneys, and, in
turn, the kidneys play an important role in electrolyte balance,
protein production, and blood pressure regulation.
However, when things go south health-wise, this relationship can quickly become codependent—a term defined by the
American Heritage® Dictionary as “mutually dependent…in an
unhealthy way” or broadly (by Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary) as
“dependence on the needs of or control by another.” In our
example, dysfunction in one organ supports or enables the
dysfunction of the other organ, and it’s frankly hard to know
which organ to blame for what.
O
ne factor complicating this issue: many cardiologists and nephrologists don’t enjoy any
relationship at all—not dependent, interdependent, or codependent. Cardiac-focused clinical
trials often exclude patients with significant kidney
disease and practice guidelines don’t provide great
guidance on how to best manage these patients.
However, our organs didn’t get the memo on this
artificial divide, leaving cardiologists scrambling X[