Is uremia hereditary?

Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
Updated on September 29, 2024
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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.

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Written by Guan Hai Fang
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What department is for uremia?

Patients with uremia are generally recommended to consult nephrology or urology departments. Uremia primarily results from the obstruction of toxic metabolic waste excretion, characterized by the accumulation of excessive protein metabolism products in the body, such as urea nitrogen and creatinine. This occurs due to amino acid metabolic disorders, leading to a reduction in essential amino acids, and consequently, symptoms of uremia manifest. Therefore, in the diet of uremic patients, it is important to restrict protein intake, particularly focusing on high-amino acid foods, mainly essential amino acids. It is generally advisable to adhere to a low-protein diet, with about 20 grams of protein supplied daily to alleviate the burden on the kidneys. Hence, choosing potassium-containing foods is crucial; if urine output is below 1000 milliliters, low-potassium foods should be selected to avoid consuming high-phosphorus foods like animal organs and brains, preventing an increase in blood phosphorus levels. Moreover, strict restrictions should be imposed on irritant foods, such as alcohol and chili peppers.

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Nephrology
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Is uremia contagious?

Strictly speaking, uremia is not an independent disease and it is not contagious. Uremia refers to the state where numerous causes chronically damage the kidneys over a long period, eventually leading to the destruction of most kidney tissue, resulting in the kidneys' inability to excrete metabolic waste. There are many causes of uremia, including chronic nephritis, diabetes hypertension, systemic lupus erythematosus, urinary system stones, and even prostate hyperplasia, among others, which damage the kidneys and lead to this condition. Generally, these causes are not contagious as they do not involve bacteria, viruses, or fungi. However, if uremia is caused by infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B virus or HIV, these infectious diseases can be contagious, but uremia itself is not contagious.

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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.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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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)

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The precursors of uremia

The so-called uremia refers to the end result of chronic kidney disease causing long-term damage to the kidneys in patients. Patients with uremia often have long-standing conditions, as it takes time to progress from mild kidney failure to uremia. Before the onset of uremia, patients may experience symptoms related to kidney failure, such as swelling of the limbs and face, reduced urine output, proteinuria which leads to foamy urine, and visible blood in the urine due to hematuria. Patients are also prone to developing high blood pressure. These symptoms can be precursors to uremia, although other diseases can also cause similar symptoms.