| pubmed-article:17502758 | pubmed:abstractText | Chronic heart failure (CHF) is often associated with impaired renal function. Diuretics and vasodilators may lead to aggravated renal dysfunction (ARD), particularly among patients with decompensated CHF. Although the prevalence of ARD has been evaluated in patients awaiting heart transplantation, little is known about ARD in the community sample of CHF patients. Accordingly, we prospectively assessed the prevalence, predictors and prognostic value of ARD in 79 consecutive patients admitted to our general community hospital for decompensated CHF undergoing intensive unloading therapy (intravenous nitroprusside and furosemide). ARD was defined as a >or= 25% increase in serum creatinine between admission and maximal value of >or= 2 mg/dl. | lld:pubmed |
