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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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.

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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.

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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.

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Is uremia serious?

Uremia is very serious. For patients with uremia who wish to be cured, the current method is to undergo kidney transplantation. Kidney transplantation is currently considered the best method for treating uremia. If no suitable kidney source is found, or economic conditions do not allow, or for some other reasons, it is recommended that patients undergo dialysis. Dialysis is also quite expensive, but if economic conditions permit, and physical health and mood among other factors allow, patients with uremia who undergo regular dialysis can generally have their lives extended by several years. It is not uncommon to see reports of lives being extended by more than a decade.

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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.