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Kidney dysfunction during congestive heart failure, although frequent, is often neglected. Yet, it represents a life-threatening condition, oven when the kidney dysfunction is moderate. The initial approach involvus strict application of recommendations, cardiologic and nephrologic joined management and close follow-up involving patient's general practitioner. Cases of true diuretics resistance are infrequent and late. Yet, it represents a significant turning point. Mortality is high, with a major individual unpredictability. A multidisciplinary approach is needed, which has to take into account patient's preferences. Several treatments may be discussed and are sometimes joined: cardiac transplantation, water and salt extraction (using ultrafiltration, hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis), vasoconstrictive drugs, ventricular assistance devices and palliative care. Water and salt extraction techniques seem to space out hospitalizations and to provide symptomatic relief even though no benefit on patient survival has been demonstrated to date. The need for randomized clinical trials is mandatory. |
