Cardiorenal Syndrome: Characteristics and Prognostic Impact in Advanced Heart Failure

Advanced heart failure (AHF) represents the end stage of chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and affects up to 10% of patients with heart failure. These patients have refractory disease despite optimal guideline-directed medical therapy, and their management is discussed within a multidisciplinary "Heart Team". Renal dysfunction is highly prevalent in this population. The coexistence of cardiac and renal dysfunction has been classified under the entity of cardiorenal syndrome. Impaired renal function is an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes, including death, heart failure decompensation, worsening renal function, and the need for renal replacement therapy. However, patients with AHF remain a particularly complex population, and the lack of longitudinal biological data and limited understanding of the dynamics of cardiorenal syndrome in relation to therapeutic interventions make prognosis assessment and individualized management challenging. In addition, little is known about renal tubular function in AHF, despite its central role in hydro-electrolytic balance regulation. Biomarkers of tubular injury such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) have shown prognostic value in therapeutic studies, but their relationship with cardiac function and outcomes in advanced heart failure remains insufficiently characterized. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate renal function parameters and their evolution over time through measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and assessment of tubular function in patients with advanced heart failure, and to investigate their association with major adverse cardiovascular events. This is a prospective, single-center RIPH2 cohort study including 100 patients aged 18 to 75 years managed for advanced heart failure at the Louis Pradel Cardiovascular Hospital (Hospices Civils de Lyon, France). Patients will be followed according to standard care at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. More comprehensive nephrological and cardiological evaluations will be performed at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. Biobanking and quality-of-life questionnaires will also be conducted during these visits. Blood and urine samples will be collected at baseline and 12 months for NGAL et KIM-1 analysis. In addition, a subgroup of 50 consenting patients without contraindications will undergo multiparametric non-contrast renal MRI combined with tissue sodium quantification using 23Na MRI of the leg.

NCT Number	NCT07666516
Lead Sponsor	Hospices Civils de Lyon
Conditions	Advanced Heart Failure, Cardiorenal Syndrome
Enrollment	100 participants
Start Date	2026-09-01
Primary Completion	2031-11-15 (estimated)
Study Completion	2031-11-15 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-07-01