Tratamiento de la insuficiencia cardiaca en el paciente con insuficiencia renal avanzada

Renal impairment is common in patients with heart failure (HF) and HF increases with decreasing estimated glomerular filtration. Furthermore, renal impairment has an impact on the prognosis in patients with HF. In general, recommendations for the treatment of patients with HF and concomitant chronic kidney disease (CKD) are not different from those for patients with normal renal function. However, patients with moderate- to-severe renal impairment have been excluded from most clinical trials, and evidence and safety data on the therapies to be used in such patients are scarce. In the present paper, existing evidences on currently available therapies for HF in patients with moderate-to-severe CKD, including ultrafiltration with peritoneal dialysis, are discussed. Therapy complications, such as hyperkalaemia and renal function impairment, are also described. Dual angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors appear promising as a therapy that could safely reduce the risk of HF among patients with CKD. Their benefit could be mediated, among other mechanisms, by their renal effects. Other therapies, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, have proved beneficial in HF in diabetic patients showing various degrees of renal function.

Clinical trials are needed to obtain new evidence on the therapies for heart failure and to confidently reduce the excess risk of cardiovascular disease in renal disease.

Supplement information: this article is part of a supplement entitled "Questions on a new era for heart failure treatment" which is sponsored by Novartis