Symptoms of pre-uremia

Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
Updated on January 09, 2025
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The pre-uremic stage is the period of chronic renal failure. During the pre-uremic stage, many patients may have no symptoms at all. However, some patients do experience many uncomfortable symptoms, such as back soreness and weakness, fatigue, and feeling cold easily. During this stage, patients may also experience nausea and vomiting, especially pronounced nausea after waking up in the morning, as well as weight loss. Some patients in the pre-uremic stage exhibit symptoms of edema, which can occur in the eyelids, facial area, or in both lower limbs. Additionally, patients may experience feeling cold, anemia, and an increased frequency of urination at night. Of course, some patients may also experience itching of the skin on both lower limbs.

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Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
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Symptoms of pre-uremia

The pre-uremic stage is the period of chronic renal failure. During the pre-uremic stage, many patients may have no symptoms at all. However, some patients do experience many uncomfortable symptoms, such as back soreness and weakness, fatigue, and feeling cold easily. During this stage, patients may also experience nausea and vomiting, especially pronounced nausea after waking up in the morning, as well as weight loss. Some patients in the pre-uremic stage exhibit symptoms of edema, which can occur in the eyelids, facial area, or in both lower limbs. Additionally, patients may experience feeling cold, anemia, and an increased frequency of urination at night. Of course, some patients may also experience itching of the skin on both lower limbs.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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What tests are involved in checking for uremia?

Uremia refers to the final stage of chronic renal failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease. Therefore, the first step in examining a patient with uremia is to check renal function. The patient's blood creatinine level must reach a certain level to diagnose uremia. Secondly, it is necessary to examine the urinary system through color Doppler ultrasound, and to conduct blood tests for routine blood indicators, electrolytes, parathyroid hormone, etc. The color Doppler ultrasound shows a reduction in kidney size, which provides evidence for the diagnosis of uremia. Patients with uremia often also suffer from various complications, including anemia, electrolyte disorders, hyperparathyroidism, and so on. Therefore, such patients also need to undergo examinations for routine blood parameters, electrolytes, and parathyroid hormone levels, among other indicators.

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Written by Guan Hai Fang
Urology
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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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Written by Guan Hai Fang
Urology
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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.

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Written by Sun Chun
Urology
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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.