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Uremia
Causes of Uremia
Uremia is a syndrome caused by the progressive development of various chronic kidney diseases, eventually leading to renal failure in patients, where the kidneys are unable to promptly eliminate excess water, various electrolytes, and toxins from the body. There are many causes of uremia; chronic nephritis, diabetic nephropathy, and hypertensive nephropathy are the most common causes. Other causes include chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis, chronic pyelonephritis, chronic obstructive nephropathy, toxic nephropathy, hereditary nephritis, renal vascular diseases, and lupus nephritis. Once uremia occurs, the preferred treatment is dialysis therapy, which can be either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Only after dialysis treatment can the life of a patient with uremia be prolonged.
Can holding urine cause uremia?
Generally speaking, holding urine does not lead to uremia, but if the bladder is overfilled, it can result in an inability to urinate. This can lead to acute renal dysfunction. After catheterization, the indicators of renal function can quickly return to normal. Therefore, we should try to avoid holding urine as much as possible and go to the bathroom promptly when we need to. This is something we should pay attention to in our daily lives.
Is high creatinine uremia?
High creatinine levels do not necessarily indicate uremia, but during uremia, creatinine levels will certainly increase. Clinically, we consider creatinine levels above 707 as uremia. Once uremia is diagnosed, treatment mainly involves renal replacement therapy or transplantation. Renal replacement therapy mainly includes hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice should be based on the patient's individual condition. Renal transplantation is currently the best treatment option, which can be done through relatives or donations. After a kidney transplant, one can live and work like a normal person, but long-term oral immunosuppressive medication is required.
Is uremia hereditary?
Uremia is not actually an independent disease, so it's difficult to say that uremia is hereditary. Uremia refers to a condition where the kidneys are 90% damaged. However, there are many reasons that can cause more than 90% of kidney tissue damage; among these, some are genetic diseases, but most are not hereditary. Common causes of hereditary uremia include diabetes, as well as primary chronic glomerulonephritis, hypertension, urinary system stones, and even prostate tumors, allergic purpura, etc., which can all cause kidney damage. These factors are generally not genetic diseases. However, there are very few causes of uremia that are genetic diseases, mainly including autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.
Is hematuria the same as uremia?
Hematuria is not the same as uremia; hematuria is merely a symptom with various causes such as infections of the urinary system, tumors, stones, or decreased coagulation function leading to blood in the urine. After experiencing hematuria, it is necessary to promptly visit a hospital's urology department for routine urine tests, ultrasonography of the urinary system, CT scans, urinary system imaging, or even a cystoscopy to determine the specific cause of the hematuria. Uremia, on the other hand, primarily refers to damage to kidney function, leading to decreased kidney function, which causes symptoms such as reduced urine output and localized edema in the body. If hematuria occurs or uremia is suspected, a detailed examination at the hospital's urology or nephrology department is required promptly.
Is uremia cancer?
Uremia is not cancer. Chronic kidney failure refers to the presence of various kidney diseases that lead to a progressive and irreversible decline in kidney function, culminating in a series of symptoms and metabolic disorders that form a clinical syndrome, commonly known as chronic kidney failure. The end stage of chronic kidney failure is what is often referred to as uremia. Uremia is not a separate disease, but a clinical syndrome common to various late-stage kidney diseases. It is a symptom consisting of a series of clinical manifestations that occur when chronic kidney failure enters its terminal stage. Typically, this includes disturbances in water and electrolyte acid-base metabolism, with metabolic acidosis and water-electrolyte imbalance being the most common.
How long can uremia last?
Currently, kidney transplantation is the best method for treating uremia, but if a kidney source cannot be found or the financial costs are unaffordable, dialysis can be administered. Advances in dialysis technology mean that, under economically permissible circumstances and with a positive personal attitude, it can potentially extend life by several years, and there are often reports of cases extending up to a decade or more. Uremia results from kidney failure, and generally speaking, there is still no way to cure it intrinsically, so kidney transplantation should be pursued whenever possible.
Can uremia be cured?
First, it is necessary to clarify the cause and the severity, so it is important to visit the nephrology department for comprehensive tests. Once the cause is determined, the next steps can be planned based on the results, and dialysis may be necessary if required. If there is no improvement, treatments such as kidney transplantation can be considered. It is also crucial to rest, avoid fatigue, reduce activities, especially strenuous activities, maintain a positive mood, adjust your mentality, and have regular follow-ups. Therefore, this issue needs to be actively addressed, as it can be very troublesome to manage and the prognosis may be very poor if not taken seriously.
How to diagnose uremia
Uremia primarily refers to high levels of creatinine in the blood. Generally, a creatinine blood test can be used to evaluate kidney function, thus diagnosing whether the kidneys are in a compensatory stage, in a chronic stage, or during a period of uremia. Renal insufficiency, which causes uremia, has specific causes. It is essential to determine whether the causes are renal or post-renal by performing routine urinary system CT scans to identify any obstructions, stones, or space-occupying lesions that may lead to hydronephrosis and a decline in renal function. Other internal medical diseases, such as chronic nephritis syndrome and kidney disease, can also lead to increased creatinine levels. In such cases, renal biopsy and pathology are necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Once an individual reaches the uremic stage, the overall condition tends to deteriorate, characterized by fatigue, anorexia, and weight loss. Additional issues include toxin accumulation in the body leading to anemia and various other problems, including gastrointestinal issues and reduced digestive capacity resulting in loss of appetite. When the aforementioned symptoms occur, there generally are only two treatment options: dialysis to filter out the toxins or, if an appropriate kidney source is available and economically feasible, kidney transplantation can be considered.
What should I do about uremia heart failure?
Patients with uremia often develop complications of heart failure, which is actually the leading cause of death in patients with uremia. This type of heart failure is mainly due to the decreased ability of the kidneys to excrete water, leading to an increase in blood volume and an increased burden on the heart. It is also related to many factors such as the patient often having hypertension, anemia, coronary heart disease, etc. For such diseases, it is first necessary to assess whether the patient has excess water in the body. If there is too much water, urgent dialysis ultrafiltration is needed to remove the water. After the water is removed, the symptoms of heart failure will be significantly relieved. Secondly, it is necessary to deal with some other complications related to heart failure. For example, in the case of anemia, temporary blood transfusions or the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents to promote hematopoiesis can be used. Hypertension requires the use of antihypertensive drugs to control blood pressure and other comprehensive treatment measures. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor)