The Role of Inflammation in the Cardio-Renal Syndrome: A Focus on Cytokines and Inflammatory Mediators

Cardiovascular and kidney diseases are highly prevalent and frequently are seen in the same patient. This overlap between cardiac and kidney diseases, in part, relates to common etiologies such as diabetes and hypertension. However, there are important dynamic and bidirectional interactions between the cardiovascular system and kidneys that may explain the occurrence of organ dysfunction. In this regard, it is clear that inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of both cardiovascular and renal diseases. Given the circulating nature of many inflammatory mediators (cytokines, immune cells), it is tempting to speculate that the immune system can act as a mediator of organ cross-talk and may be involved in the reciprocal dysfunction that is encountered commonly in cardio-renal syndromes.