Natriuretic Peptides as Biomarkers for Congestive States: The Cardiorenal Divergence

Figure 1

Bidirectional pathways linking heart failure, renal dysfunction, and congestion in cardiorenal syndrome. Decompensation of heart failure can lead to deterioration in renal function via exacerbated neurohormonal activity (i.e., low forward flow) or through fluid overload and renal venous congestion (i.e., high backward pressure). Increase in natriuretic peptides represents the congestive state in this setting. Adapted with permission from reference [27]. LVEDP: left ventricular end-diastolic pressure; LVF: left ventricular function.