 In this study, researchers investigated the relationship between marinobufaginin, MBG, an endogenous steroid cardiotonic hormone, and chronic kidney disease, CKD. They found that CKD patients had significantly lower levels of MBG than healthy controls, and that these levels correlated with left ventricular mass index, LVME, renal function, and other markers of cardiorenal status. The authors concluded that MBG could be used as a marker of cardiac dysfunction in CKD patients, and that it may help identify those at greatest risk of developing cardiovascular complications following kidney transplantation. This article was authored by Davide Balignano, Marta Greco, Pirangelo Presta, and others.