What is azotemia

You may have nausea or vomiting. Some people experience a loss of appetite. You may become confused, or have a seizure. These are all symptoms of kidney problems.

Management of side effects that may lead to dehydration such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea see specific symptoms for management tips that may help to prevent symptoms of kidney problems. Testing of Kidney Function: Your doctor or healthcare provider may order certain blood tests, including a blood urea nitrogen BUN and Creatinine test, to monitor your kidney function if signs of kidney problems are present.

He or she may also ask you to save your urine for a hour period, in order to monitor how much creatinine is in your urine during a hour period. Your doctor or healthcare provider may order some tests to evaluate your kidneys and bladder.

He or she may order: An ultrasound of your kidneys An x-ray of your kidneys, ureter and bladder KUB He or she may place a tube in your bladder called a catheter , if you are not urinating, to see if there is a obstruction with urine behind the blockage, or if you are not making any urine at all Follow all of your health care provider's instructions.

Make sure that with each medication that you are given to take, your doctor or health care provider is aware of your kidney disease. Avoid any drugs that may cause you to have further symptoms of kidney problems. You may be advised to follow a "renal diet". This includes foods that are low in sodium, potassium, magnesium and protein.

Reading the labels on food is helpful to know what kinds of calories, fat and protein you are taking in. Discuss this with your healthcare provider. Some general recommendations include: Limit Carbohydrates - Carbohydrates, either simple such as fruit and sugar or complex, such as pasta and cereals , have the greatest impact on blood sugar levels, which is important if you have kidney problems due to your diabetes.

In addition, excess carbohydrates that we take into our bodies are also converted into fat. Avoid sugar, and instead, use artificial sweeteners, such as nutrasweet, aspartame, or saccharin, to help you lose weight, or maintain your current weight.

Protein - Foods that are high in protein include all kinds of meats. Long-term damage to your kidneys may be corrected by restricting protein, if you are diabetic, or experiencing symptoms of kidney problems. Increase fresh vegetables and fiber intake - Up to 55 grams of fiber per day is recommended.

Fiber and fresh vegetables help to maintain regular bowel habits, and may prevent certain cancers. However, you should avoid foods that are high in potassium and magnesium, if you are having kidney problems.

Foods that are high in potassium include most fresh fruits and vegetables. Some specific examples include: Oranges and orange juice Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach and greens collard and kale Potatoes There are many types of "good and bad" fats. The easiest thing to remember is to limit your intake of saturated fats and oils.

Avoid excess magnesium in your diet, often found in laxatives such as milk of magnesia , or antacids unless specified by your healthcare provider. Drugs That May Be Prescribed By Your Doctor For Azotemia: Depending on your overall health status, your doctor may recommend that certain drugs be used to treat or prevent your symptoms of kidney problems. Some of the common drugs may include: Amifostine - Your doctor or health care provider may prescribe this medication to decrease toxicity with repeated doses of Cisplatin chemotherapy.

If your blood sugar levels are not under good control, you may be ordered to take insulin alone, or in addition to an oral anti-diabetic agent. Insulin injections may be temporary, while you are first diagnosed, or they may need to be continued for a longer period of time.

Your health care provider will determine this. Side effects of these medications may vary, but most include low blood sugar levels, weight loss, and improvement in your blood cholesterol levels. Some may cause slight nausea or loss of appetite, or diarrhea and bowel disturbances. It is important to follow your health care provider's recommendations for taking these pills. When to Contact Your Doctor or Health Care Provider: If you begin urinating less frequently, or if your urine is dark, cloudy, or painful.

Pathophysiology and etiology of acute kidney injury. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Okusa MD, Portilla D.

Pathophysiology of acute kidney injury. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. Wolfson AB. Renal failure. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Editorial team. Prerenal azotemia. Prerenal azotemia is an abnormally high level of nitrogen waste products in the blood.

Prerenal azotemia is common, especially in older adults and in people who are in the hospital. Any condition that reduces blood flow to the kidney may cause it, including: Burns Conditions that allow fluid to escape from the bloodstream Long-term vomiting, diarrhea, or bleeding Heat exposure Decreased fluid intake dehydration Loss of blood volume Certain medicines, such as ACE inhibitors drugs that treat heart failure or high blood pressure and NSAIDs Conditions in which the heart cannot pump enough blood or pumps blood at a low volume also increase the risk for prerenal azotemia.

These conditions include: Heart failure Shock septic shock It can also be caused by conditions that interrupt blood flow to the kidney, such as: Certain types of surgery Injury to the kidney Blockage of the artery that supplies blood to the kidney renal artery occlusion. Symptoms of dehydration may be present and include any of the following: Confusion Decreased or no urine production Dry mouth due to thirst Fast pulse Fatigue Pale skin color Swelling. Exams and Tests.

These tests will check your blood urea nitrogen BUN and creatinine levels. This low flow of fluid creates high-level concentrations of serum creatinine and urea. This type of azotemia is the most common and can usually be reversed. Intrinsic azotemia usually occurs from infection, sepsis, or disease.

The most common cause of intrinsic azotemia is acute tubular necrosis. A urinary tract obstruction causes postrenal azotemia. Postrenal azotemia can also occur with prerenal azotemia.

These types of azotemia may have somewhat different treatments, causes, and outcomes. This late stage is usually when kidney failure has started. The primary cause of azotemia is a loss of kidney function. However, the different types of azotemia, which may arise from or be a part of renal failure, have different causes:.

Cancer treatment can also sometimes cause azotemia. Chemotherapy drugs are powerful and can damage your kidneys. They can also cause a significant quantity of nitrogen-containing byproducts to be released by the dying cancer cells. Your oncologist will monitor your kidneys and ammonia level with regular tests. If needed, your doctor may be able to adjust or try different chemotherapy medications if your kidneys are affected.

With this in mind, some of the treatments may include:. Those with kidney disease or other kidney issues can develop prerenal azotemia. Other complications may include:.