ABSTRACT
Because of the magnitude of the chronic renal failure (CRF) population, it is important for physicians to be aware of the ways in which kidney disorders influence the handling of cardiovascular (CVR) drugs. Renal and cardiac diseases often coexist, and the pharmacokinetics of renally cleared drugs are influenced by the diverse hemodynamic and volume changes, which characterize many CVR illnesses. Many patients currently undergo chronic maintenance hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. The dialysis population exhibits a considerable CVR disease burden: thus, establishing them as candidates for a variety of CVR interventions of a pharmacologic nature. Finally, there is a growing population of patients who have undergone kidney, cardiac, or liver transplantation in whom the drugs making up their immunosuppressive regimens have the potential to reduce renal function and/or interact with co-administered CVR medications.
