Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Journal of Renal and Hepatic Disorders. The aim of the journal is to promote the study and dissemination of research involving both renal and hepatic organ systems and their impact on the whole organism in both healthy and diseased states. In addition, the focus of the journal will provide a unique forum in which the interdependence and interactions between the liver and kidney will be of particular interest.

Although there seems to be a proliferation of open journals in the medical arena, our editorial board feels that the study of the interdependence of organ systems is underrepresented. Those of us in the field of transplantation have an intuitive understanding of the interrelationship between organ systems, given our exposure to patients with dual organ failure. When a single organ system fails, the impact is felt throughout several systems in a cascade of effects that may or may not be reversible once the primary organ failure has been reversed. A common and well-known example of this interaction is the hepatorenal syndrome in end-stage cirrhosis of the liver in which the vasogenic effects of liver disease initially result in acute kidney injury but may progress to irreversible ischemic renal failure if the vasogenic influence of liver failure is not reversed quickly enough (1–3). The increasing importance of this phenomenon is evidenced by the proliferation of simultaneous liver/kidney transplantation over the last decade (4, 5).

Although the pathogenesis and reversal of the hepatorenal syndrome is an excellent example of the area of focus for the journal, the aims of the journal are wider in scope than end-stage disease and transplantation alone. As the kidney and liver are two of the most metabolically influential organs in the body, the potential for the study of physiological and/or pathophysiologic interactions is unlimited. A PubMed search using the title keywords “Kidney” and “Liver” for the year 2015 returned 250 titles widely ranging from exercise physiology to the impact of hepatitis B and C in renal transplant recipients (6, 7). Other sampled articles involved markers of co-toxicities, and micro-RNA profiles involving both organ systems were described due to acetaminophen overdose (8). The emerging pathophysiology of fatty liver disease is a growing topic (9).

The interdependence of homeostatic mechanisms originating from the combined effects of the liver and kidney in maintaining nitrogen balance is exemplified in the recent articles with novel transporter mutations (10, 11).

Furthermore, the impact of inherited disorders such as polycystic disease or nitrogen metabolism may be a fruitful area for further discovery (12).

The editorial board of the Journal of Renal and Hepatic Disorders aims to promote the greater understanding and dissemination of original works in all areas involving the interplay of these two organ systems, both in the basic scientific and clinical realms. Toward this aim, original articles, comprehensive reviews, case reports, short communications, and letters to the editor on any aspects of kidneys and liver are suitable for submission. All submitted manuscripts will undergo a rigorous peer review and will be published in an open access manner for the widest potential dissemination. Our goal is to achieve widespread indexing and continued growth and to increase the prestige of the journal in the scientific community. We look forward to a rewarding and scientifically productive relationship with our community and contributors.