Symptoms of Uremia

Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
Updated on December 13, 2024
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Once diagnosed with uremia, patients exhibit numerous clinical symptoms, though these symptoms are not completely identical across different individuals. Typically, the primary symptoms of uremia include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, with these symptoms becoming more pronounced after eating. There might even be diarrhea, an increase in the frequency of bowel movements, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Additionally, patients show signs of edema, particularly around the eyelids and face, with very noticeable swelling in the lower limbs. Severe cases may also present with pleural effusion and ascites, accompanied by a reduction in urine output. Patients may also experience dizziness, headache, elevated blood pressure, and even exhibit pallor, anemia, itchy skin, bone pain, and intolerance to cold, among various other clinical symptoms.

Other Voices

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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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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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Does uremia hurt?

The so-called uremia refers to patients whose kidney function has been lost by more than 90%, and the vast majority of kidney tissue has been destroyed. Although the condition of these patients is very serious, they do not experience pain symptoms. In patients with uremia, the kidney tissue has hardened, and in most of the causes leading to uremia, pain is not induced. Even though the kidneys have severe problems, there are no nerves in the kidneys to sense pain, as there are no sensory nerves, so the kidneys do not feel pain. Causes that can lead to uremia include diabetes, hypertension, chronic nephritis, urinary system stones, tumors, and more. Painful conditions are mainly caused by urinary system stones, while other causes generally do not entail pain.

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Written by Li Fang Xiao
Internal Medicine
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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.

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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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Written by Guan Hai Fang
Urology
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Is uremia cancer?

Uremia is not cancer. Chronic kidney failure refers to the presence of various kidney diseases that lead to a progressive and irreversible decline in kidney function, culminating in a series of symptoms and metabolic disorders that form a clinical syndrome, commonly known as chronic kidney failure. The end stage of chronic kidney failure is what is often referred to as uremia. Uremia is not a separate disease, but a clinical syndrome common to various late-stage kidney diseases. It is a symptom consisting of a series of clinical manifestations that occur when chronic kidney failure enters its terminal stage. Typically, this includes disturbances in water and electrolyte acid-base metabolism, with metabolic acidosis and water-electrolyte imbalance being the most common.