Cardiovascular Consequences of Acute Kidney Injury

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1. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is recognized as a potential risk factor for future cardiovascular events, especially heart failure.
2. Up to 60% of patients with severe AKI who are admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) die; the long-term risk of death associated with AKI is also increased.
3. Preclinical models and biomarkers have identified several likely pathways, apparently involving mitochondrial injury, inflammation, cellular death, and profibrotic.
4. The cardiac consequences of AKI may be mediated by galectin-3 (Gal-3), as shown in studies of mice with AKI in which Gal-3 induced cardiac inflammation, cardiac fibrosis, and cardiac failure. Furthermore, increased expression of Gal-3 has been associated with cardiac damage after AKI in critically ill patients.