Uta Erdbrügger, MD
Uta Erdbrügger, MD, an associate professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, discussed her research with The Washington Post, exploring how chronic kidney disease can poison the heart.
A new study found that diseased kidneys released tiny particles that were toxic to the heart, according to findings published recently in the peer-reviewed journal Circulation.
“We went on a mission to understand this interorgan communication between the kidney and the heart,” said Dr. Erdbrügger. “We found that there are molecules communicating between the kidney and the heart.”
Dr. Erdbrügger, the study co-author and practicing kidney specialist, said the research could also inform how patients are treated. If she knew a kidney patient was at elevated risk for heart disease, she said she would consider a more aggressive approach, including increasing medication dosages or prescribing multiple drugs.
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