Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 10-18% of the adult population and is becoming recognized as one of the most serious disorders causing increased risk for cardiovascular disease and death. In patients with ischemic heart disease 26% have increased creatinine, which rises to 40% if patients also have diabetes mellitus. Risk increases as renal function diminishes, and just slowing the rate of decline in renal function would have a tremendous impact on health and morbidity. This association is commonly termed the Cardiorenal Syndrome, though it is caused by a much more complex interplay between major pathogenetic pathways such as glucose metabolism and diabetes, systemic and tissue inflammation, tissue metabolism, coagulation, mineral metabolism, sympathetic activation, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation, endothelial dysfunction, lipid metabolism, fetal programming etc.