What Causes Uremia?

Uremia is a condition in which a person has urea, one of the main components of urine, in their blood. This occurs when an excess of amino acids and the end products of protein metabolism enter the bloodstream instead of being excreted in the urine, as would happen normally. Uremia occurs when the kidneys have experienced damage. While they are generally responsible for filtering out toxins and bodily waste, malfunctioning or failing kidneys aren't able to accomplish this.

The result is these products end up back in the bloodstream, which is damaging and potentially very dangerous for the body. Uremia is one of the major symptoms of renal failure and often occurs in the final stages of kidney disease. Left untreated, uremia can be life-threatening.

Hypertension

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys. This, in turn, can cause them to weaken or harden, negatively affecting the kidneys' ability to function properly and potentially leading to kidney disease and failure. Because the kidneys are affected by hypertension, the filtration and reabsorption processes they are in charge of are also impacted. The weakened blood vessels no longer have the capacity or strength to keep the blood and circulatory system functioning at its optimal level, allowing harmful byproducts to slip through the system.

Diabetes

In addition to a plethora of other health complications, diabetes has been shown to cause uremia, especially in patients who have had the disease for a long time. Typically, in patients who have not yet reached progressive kidney disease or failure, physicians will recommend taking control of the underlying problem to improve or eliminate uremia. Diabetes is a disease that affects the body's ability to respond to or produce insulin, a critical hormone used in the processing and metabolism of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Glucose intolerance and the system's weakened ability to metabolize and process it properly has been well-documented in patients suffering from uremia.

Enlarged Prostate

Having an enlarged prostate, as is the case in patients with prostatic hyperplasia, plays a direct role in the development of uremia. In the early stages, the condition causes mild obstruction in the urinary tract. During this stage, patients are still able to urinate, but it often takes longer than normal. As the condition progresses to the middle stage, the blockage worsens, causing resistance from the urethra and exceeding the bladder's capability to compensate. Patients may frequently feel the need to urinate, but be unable to do so. The urine in the bladder can thus not be discharged completely or in a timely fashion, which can cause urea to enter the bloodstream.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are another major cause of uremia. These painful build-ups block the urinary tract for prolonged periods and, if they are not passed, can cause serious infection. They are quite common and are fairly harmless when treated. Kidney stones develop when the waste products in the blood bind inside the kidneys to form crystals. Over time, these crystals can build up and form into hard, stone-like structures. This can happen due to not drinking sufficient fluids to flush the system properly. The body will try to eject the build-up by passing it through urination, forcing the mass to pass through the kidneys, kidney tubes, and bladder.

Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic kidney disease, a genetically inherited disorder, causes clusters of cysts in the kidneys. When this happens, the kidneys enlarge and, over time, lose function. It is not uncommon for individuals to go for years without knowing they have the condition. Though they can become large, the cysts themselves are non-cancerous, but they can still damage the kidneys and certainly impact their function, which in turn can lead to the development of high blood pressure, kidney disease, kidney failure, and uremia. This disease varies greatly in its severity, and some of the potential complications are preventable through monitoring and lifestyle changes.