Uremia is a life-threatening condition that occurs when waste products associated with decreased kidney function build up in the circulation. Uremia refers to the effects of waste product buildup and implies “urine in the blood.” It has an impact on the entire body.
Uremia is most commonly caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD), which can progress to end-stage renal (kidney) disease (ESKD), but it can also happen suddenly, resulting in possibly reversible acute kidney damage and failure (AKI). Uremia can lead to major health concerns such fluid retention, electrolyte imbalances, hormone imbalances, and metabolic issues. Uremia is always deadly if left untreated, and it was always this way before dialysis and transplantation were available.
Renal or Kidney Failure: The kidneys assist the body in eliminating undesirable waste materials produced as a result of metabolism. Urea is a very important metabolic by-product. Our kidneys assist in the removal of undesirable waste from the circulation, which is subsequently sent to the bladder and excreted through the ureter. As a result, when the kidneys fail to do their job, waste products build up in the circulation, causing azotemia.
Generally, azotemia progresses to uremia when the kidneys are injured sufficiently to cause symptoms. This can set off a chain of hypoglycemic responses that can lead to diabetes, and if adequate therapy and medicine are not given, the body may suffer catastrophic consequences.
Who is at risk of developing uremia?
Uremia is more common in those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD can be caused by renal disease or a broader illness. In the United States, CKD is most frequently caused by:
- Diabetes mellitus.
- High blood pressure.
- Glomerulonephritis (GN) is a kind of kidney inflammation that affects the glomerulus (damage to the filters in the kidneys).
- PKD (polycystic kidney disease) is a kind of kidney disease in which the cysts in the kidneys grow (caused by cysts, or fluid-filled sacs, in or around the kidneys).
Causes of uremia
Uremia is caused by severe and typically irreparable renal injury. Chronic renal disease is the most common cause of this. The kidneys are no longer capable of filtering and excreting waste from your body through urine. Instead, the waste enters your bloodstream, resulting in a potentially fatal disease.
Chronic kidney disease can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Diabetes
- polycystic kidney disease high blood pressure (both type 1 and 2)
- Glomeruli, the filtration units of the kidneys, are inflamed.
- The tubules of the kidney and the tissues that surround them are inflamed.
- prostate enlargement
- cancers of several sorts
- Kidney stones that obstruct the urinary system for an extended length of time are known as kidney stones.
- recurring kidney infections
HOW DO YOU GET HEMOLYTIC UREMIC SYNDROME?
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a disorder in which your kidneys’ tiny blood capillaries become damaged and irritated. Clots in the vessels might occur as a result of this injury. The clots obstruct the kidneys’ filtration mechanism, resulting in renal failure, which can be life-threatening.
Infection with specific types of E. coli bacteria is the most prevalent cause of HUS, especially in children under the age of five. E. coli is a bacterial species that may be found in the intestines of healthy humans and animals. The majority of the hundreds of different forms of E. coli are healthy and safe. However, certain E. coli strains cause diarrhea.
Shiga toxin is a toxin produced by some E. coli strains that induce diarrhea. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC, is the name given to these strains. When you have a STEC infection, the Shiga toxin can enter your circulation and damage your blood vessels, which can lead to HUS. However, the majority of patients infected with E. coli, even those with the deadliest strains, do not develop HUS.
HUS can also be caused by a variety of factors, such as:
- Other diseases, such as pneumococcal infection, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, or influenza
- Certain drugs, particularly those used to treat cancer and those intended to suppress the immune system of organ transplant patients, have been linked to the development of cancer.
- HUS can happen as a result of a pregnancy problem or a health condition like autoimmune illness or cancer.
A typical HUS is a rare kind of HUS that can be handed down the generations. People who inherit the defective gene that produces this kind of HUS are not certain to get the disease. However, a trigger, such as an infection, the use of certain drugs, or a persistent health condition, might activate the mutant gene.
SIGN OF UREMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY
Uremic encephalopathy is a type of brain disease that occurs when there is a build-up of uremic acid in the brain. It occurs in individuals with acute or chronic renal failure when the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) drops below 15 mL/min and stays there.
Depending on the etiology of uremic encephalopathy, the indications and symptoms may differ. The majority of instances of uremic syndrome are caused by E. coli bacteria infection, which affects the digestive system first.
The following are some of the first indications and symptoms of this kind of syndrome:
- Abdominal discomfort, cramping, or bloating
- Diarrhea that is often bloody
- Vomiting
- Fever
- acute exhaustion or lethargy
- leg cramps
- little or no appetite
- headache
- vertigo
- difficulty concentrating
CONCLUSION
Finally, uremia-related kidney or renal failure can be avoided in a variety of ways. Taking proactive actions to manage diabetes and maintain excellent cardiovascular health, for example, is an effective strategy to avoid kidney failure. Uremia and renal failure can be avoided by eating a well-balanced diet, exercising frequently, and maintaining a healthy blood pressure.