Causes of Uremia

Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
Updated on December 03, 2024
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Uremia is a syndrome caused by the progressive development of various chronic kidney diseases that ultimately leads to bilateral renal failure in patients, unable to timely remove excess water, electrolytes, and various toxins from the body. The causes of uremia are many and complex. Common causes include chronic nephritis, diabetic nephropathy, and hypertensive nephropathy. Other diseases such as chronic interstitial nephritis, chronic pyelonephritis, uric acid nephropathy, chronic obstructive nephropathy, renal vascular diseases, and hereditary nephritis can also lead to uremia. Once uremia occurs, patients often exhibit symptoms of general discomfort and may need to choose dialysis treatment, which can be either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, depending on individual circumstances.

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Is high creatinine uremia?

High creatinine levels do not necessarily indicate uremia. High creatinine often implies that the patient is experiencing renal failure, which can be classified into acute renal failure and chronic renal failure based on factors such as the patient's medical history and course of the disease. Uremia is the final state of chronic renal failure. Thus, even if high creatinine levels suggest the possibility of chronic renal failure, it does not necessarily mean that the patient has reached the final stage. Uremia, also known as end-stage renal disease, generally requires a patient's blood creatinine to exceed 707 µmol/L. Additionally, patients often simultaneously present with clinical manifestations such as renal anemia, disorders of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and reduction in kidney size.

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Early symptoms of uremia in women

Uremia is a terminal stage of many kidney diseases. In the early stages of uremia, symptoms such as nausea and vomiting related to the gastrointestinal tract often appear. Other symptoms can include itchy skin and a dull complexion. For women, complications such as menstrual disorders and irregular menstruation may occur. In such cases, it is necessary to go to the hospital to check kidney function and determine the specific levels of creatinine and urea. If creatinine exceeds 700, it generally reaches the level of uremia, requiring renal replacement therapy such as hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. For uremia, it is most important to control the intake of salt and water in the diet, avoid high-salt food, and also avoid drinking too much water to prevent fluid retention in the body, thereby endangering life, as this can lead to heart failure or severe edema.

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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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Does uremia cause blood in urine?

Patients with uremia may experience hematuria, but not all patients will do so. Uremia refers to a condition where over 90% of the patient's kidney tissue has been damaged. Due to the destruction of kidney tissue, when blood passes through the kidneys, it is indeed possible that red blood cells will leak from the glomeruli into the urine. Therefore, patients with uremia may exhibit signs of hematuria, especially those caused by primary chronic glomerulonephritis. If the uremia is caused by tumors or kidney stones leading to urinary obstruction, this situation can cause bleeding in the ureters or bladder, also resulting in hematuria. However, most patients with uremia have a very low chance of experiencing hematuria because the vast majority of their kidney tissue has been destroyed, even up to 100%, leaving no urine production, and thus no blood in the urine. If an anuric patient exhibits hematuria, the possibility of stones, tumors, or urinary tract infections should 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.