Prerenal azotemia is an abnormally high level of nitrogen-type wastes in the blood.
Alternative NamesAzotemia - prerenal; Uremia; Renal underperfusion
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsPrerenal azotemia is somewhat common, especially in people who are in the hospital.
The kidneys normally filter the blood. When the volume or pressure of blood flow through the kidney drops, blood filtration also drops, and may not occur at all. Waste products stay in the blood and little or no urine is formed, even though the kidney itself is intact and working.
Lab tests show that nitrogen-type wastes, such as creatinine and urea, build up in the body (azotemia). These waste products act as poisons when they build up. They damage tissues and reduce the ability of the organs to function. The build-up of nitrogen waste products and excess fluid in the body cause most of the symptoms of prerenal azotemia and acute kidney failure.
Prerenal azotemia is the most common form of kidney failure in hospitalized patients. Any condition that reduces blood flow to the kidney may cause it, including:
Conditions in which blood volume is not lost, but the heart cannot pump enough blood or the blood is pumped at low volume, also increase the risk for prerenal azotemia. These conditions include:
It also can be caused by conditions where the blood flow to the kidney is interrupted, such as:
Other symptoms may include:
An examination may show:
The following tests may be done for prerenal azotemia:
The main goal of treatment is to quickly correct the cause before the kidney becomes damaged. People often need to stay in the hospital, and may need treatment in an intensive care unit. Treatment may include hemodialysis or dialysis inside the body (peritoneal dialysis).
Intravenousfluids, including blood or blood products, may be used to increase blood volume. After blood volume has been restored, medications may be used to increase blood pressure and heart output. These may include dopamine, dobutamine, and other heart medications. The cause of the decreased blood volume or blood pressure should be diagnosed and treated.
If the person has other symptoms of acute kidney failure, treatment for it should include medication, diet changes, or dialysis.
Expectations (prognosis)Prerenal azotemia can be reversed if the cause can be found and corrected within 24 hours. However, if the cause is not fixed quickly, damage may occur to the kidney (acute tubular necrosis).
ComplicationsGo to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have symptoms of prerenal azotemia.
PreventionQuickly treating any condition that reduces the volume or force of blood flow through the kidneys may help prevent prerenal azotemia.
ReferencesGoldman L, Ausiello D, eds.Goldman: Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 121.Prerenal azotemia is an abnormally high level of nitrogen waste products in the blood.
Alternative NamesAzotemia - prerenal; Uremia; Renal underperfusion
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsPrerenal azotemia is common, especially in people who are in the hospital.
The kidneys normally filter the blood. When the volume or pressure of blood flow through the kidney drops, filtering of the blood also drops, or may not occur at all. Waste products stay in the blood and little or no urine is formed, even though the kidney itself is working.
Nitrogen waste products, such as creatinine and urea, build up in the body (azotemia). These waste products act as poisons when they build up. They damage tissues and reduce the ability of the organs to function.
Prerenal azotemia is the most common form of kidney failure in hospitalized patients. Any condition that reduces blood flow to the kidney may cause it, including:
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:
It also can be caused by conditions that interrupt blood flow to the kidney, such as:
Other symptoms may include:
An examination may show:
The following tests may be done:
The main goal of treatment is to quickly correct the cause before the kidney becomes damaged. People often need to stay in the hospital, and may need treatment in an intensive care unit.
Intravenousfluids, including blood or blood products, may be used to increase blood volume. After blood volume has been restored, medications may be used to increase blood pressure and heart output. These may include dopamine, dobutamine, and other heart medications. The cause of the decreased blood volume or blood pressure should be diagnosed and treated.
If the person has other symptoms of acute kidney failure, treatment for it should include:
Prerenal azotemia can be reversed if the cause can be found and corrected within 24 hours. However, if the cause is not fixed quickly, damage may occur to the kidney (acute tubular necrosis).
ComplicationsGo to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have symptoms of prerenal azotemia.
PreventionQuickly treating any condition that reduces the volume or force of blood flow through the kidneys may help prevent prerenal azotemia.
ReferencesYu ASL. Diseases of magnesium and phosphorous. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Goldman: Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 121.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 09/21/2011
Herbert Y. Lin, MD, PhD, Nephrologist, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Prerenal azotemia is the medical term for an abnormally high level of nitrogen waste products in the blood.
Azotemia is a medical characterized by abnormally high levels of nitrogen containing compounds such as urea,creatine, various body waste compounds and other nitrogen rich compounds in the blood.
kidneys An Elevation Of Bun (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
azotemia
Azotemia
James Brian McConnell has written: 'The alimentary tract and azotemia'
Azotemia or uremia means high blood levels of nitrogenous waste.
The cause of hepatic coma is unknown, but the condition is frequently associated with the following conditions: Acute or chronic liver disease, Gastrointestinal bleeding, Azotemia, the accumulation of nitrogen-containing compounds in the blood.
azalea. azedarach. azide. azido. azimuth. azimuthal. azo. azoic. azoimide. azonal. azonic. azotaemia. azote. azotemia. azotemic. azotic. azoturia. azure. azurite. azygos. azygous. azymia.
Symptoms of nephrotoxic injury are wide ranging and, in some cases, depend upon the type of toxin involved. In general, symptoms are similar to those of renal failure and include excess urea in the blood (azotemia), anemia.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine are waste products that are normally filtered from the blood in the kidney and excreted in the urine. If these values exceed normal ranges (this is called azotemia) it indicates renal disease.
According to SOWPODS (the combination of Scrabble dictionaries used around the world) there are 2 words with the pattern -Z-T---A. That is, eight letter words with 2nd letter Z and 4th letter T and 8th letter A. In alphabetical order, they are: azotemia azoturia