What tests are involved in checking for uremia?

Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
Updated on February 13, 2025
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
51sec home-news-image

Does uremia transmit to others?

Uremia is not contagious to others because it is not an infectious disease. Uremia is a severe renal failure, so patients with uremia can interact, communicate, live, work, and study with healthy people without the need for gastrointestinal or respiratory isolation. Normally, if a patient with uremia is stable, they can engage in sexual activities and the disease will not be transmitted through sexual contact. Uremia usually presents symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, edema, and increased blood pressure. Therefore, patients with uremia need to undergo dialysis treatment. They can choose either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Dialysis treatment can significantly improve the symptoms of uremia and enhance the quality of life of the patients.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Guan Hai Fang
Urology
35sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Fang Xiao
Internal Medicine
48sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Feng Fei
Urology
37sec home-news-image

Why would someone get uremia?

Uremia, also known as end-stage renal failure, has many causes. Common surgical conditions include urological obstructions such as urethral blockage, kidney tumors, malformations, kidney cancer, and others, as well as numerous kidney cysts, all of which can lead to renal failure. Common internal medicine causes include chronic glomerulonephritis, long-standing hypertension, hypertensive nephropathy, diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, etc., which can also lead to renal failure. In summary, end-stage renal failure is referred to as uremia.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
50sec home-news-image

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.