Nephrology & Therapeutics

Kidney and the Heart

Heart failure, affects the kidney through the backward and the forward failure effects. Systemic Venous congestion. This results in an increase in the capillary pressure, transudation into interstitial spaces with decrease in effective circulating volume. This will be aggravated by the presence of forward failure and decrease in perfusion of the vital organs including the kidney.   The result is oliguria; and in severe cases it may lead to prerenal failure.  The heart pumps blood filled with oxygen through all parts of your body, including the kidneys. The kidneys clean the blood, removing waste products and extra water. Without the heart kidneys would not have the oxygen filled blood needed. Increase in right atrial pressure and systemic congestion will increase secretion of ANP.