Azotemia is a medical condition characterized by abnormal levels of urea, creatinine, various body waste compounds, and other nitrogen-rich compounds in the blood as a result of insufficient filtering of the blood by the kidneys. Urea is an organic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen, with the formula CON2H4 or (NH2)2CO. Urea is also known as carbamide, especially in the recommended International Non-proprietary Names (rINN) in use in Europe. ... Creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine phosphate in muscle, and is usually produced at a fairly constant rate by the body (depending on muscle mass). ... Human blood smear: a - erythrocytes; b - neutrophil; c - eosinophil; d - lymphocyte. ...

Uremia can be used as a synonym, or can be used to indicate severe azotemia, in which symptoms are produced. Uremia is a toxic condition resulting from renal failure, when kidney function is compromised and urea, a waste product normally excreted in the urine, is retained in the blood. ...

Azotemia can be classified according to its cause. In prerenal azotemia the blood supply to the kidneys is inadequate. In postrenal azotemia the urinary outflow tract is obstructed. Other forms of azotemia are caused by diseases of the kidneys themselves.

Other causes of azotemia include congestive heart failure, shock, severe burns, prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, some antiviral medications, or trauma to the kidney(s). Congestive heart failure (CHF), also called congestive cardiac failure (CCF) or just heart failure, is a condition that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the heart to fill with or pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body. ...

Signs and symptoms

• Decreased or absent urine output
• Fatigue
• Decreased alertness
• Confusion
• Pale skin color
• Rapid pulse
• Dry mouth
• Thirst, swelling (edema, anasarca)
• Orthostatic blood pressure (rises or falls, significantly depending on position)

A urinalysis will typically show a decreased urine sodium level, a high urine creatinine-to- serum creatinine ratio, a high urine urea-to-serum urea ratio, and concentrated urine (determined by osmolality and specific gravity). None of these is particularly useful in diagnosis. Edema (BE: oedema, formerly known as dropsy) is swelling of any organ or tissue due to accumulation of excess fluid. ... A urinalysis (or UA) is an array of tests performed on urine and one of the most common methods of medical diagnosis. ...

Prompt treatment of some causes of azotemia can result in restoration of kidney function; delayed treatment may result in permanent loss of renal function. Treatment may include hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, medications to increase cardiac output and increase blood pressure, and the treatment of the condition that caused the azotemia to begin with. NOTE: Azotemia is not diagnosed with abnormally high levels of Creatinine. Azotemia simply refers to an elevated level of urea in the blood. Added Note: Uremia is not azotemia. Azotemia is one of many clinical characteristics of uremia, which is a syndome characteristic of renal disease. A hemodialysis machine In medicine, hemodialysis, also haemodialysis, is a method for removing waste products such as potassium and urea, as well as free water from the blood when the kidneys are incapable of this (i. ... In medicine, dialysis is a type of renal replacement therapy which is used to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function due to renal failure. ...