Renal Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease

Regulation of pH and acid–base homeostasis is vitally important to cell functions, its metabolism, and normal human physiology. The kidneys and lungs regulate acid–base balance, whereas the brain and the liver have some regulatory functions. The first part of this chapter provides comprehensive information on acid–base balance and describes its associated disorders. The interconnection between electrolytes and their neutrality are major concepts to be applied in the diagnosis of acid–base imbalance and its disorders. The second part of this chapter provides practical information regarding the cardiorenal syndrome, which is a term used to define the disorders of the kidneys and the heart, whereby acute or chronic dysfunction in one organ may induce acute or chronic dysfunction of the other.