The liver and the kidney jointly or in a complementary manner play an important role in maintaining homeostasis of the internal environment, mainly regarding detoxification, excretion and regulation. Hepatorenal syndrome can develop under pathological circumstances due to severe hepatic impairment, when the metabolism of both organs is affected by various xenobiotics, when they are damaged by genetic defects as in renal polycystosis, glycogenoses, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency or in hereditary amyloidosis. In primary hyperoxaluria or familiar thrombotic microangiopathy renal impairment develops due to the metabolic defect in the liver. Both organs may be impaired also in some hemolytic anemias, viral hepatitis, AIDS, leptospirosis, in circulatory failure, intoxications, and after the bone marrow or solid organ transplantation. In the dialysis units, prevention of viral hepatitis and HIV infection is of the basic importance; its principles are discussed in more detail.

        Key words: liver, kidney, hepatorenal syndrome, detoxification, excretion, regulation, viral hepatitis.