Increased urea content. Urea in the blood is increased: possible symptoms. Symptoms of low urea

When urea in the blood is lowered, it can warn of disorders in the excretory system of the kidneys. It is important to understand what are the reasons for such a deviation from the norm, what it depends on and whether any treatment is required.

The human body is an integral structure. If there is a violation of the activity of any one system, others suffer. Urea is the end product of protein catabolism.

Why is this indicator measured?

The human body is constantly changing. The excretion of protein metabolism products is an integral part of this process. However, the amount of excretion of urea (or urea) may vary. If the level of urea in the blood is normal, this confirms the balance of protein metabolism.

A blood test for the level of urea will determine:

How efficient are the kidneys?

Is the liver coping;

Is muscle tissue functioning normally?

If the urea is lowered, it is most often not asymptomatic. There are signs that allow you to see the problem on early stage and apply for qualified help. Although this phenomenon is rare, it requires medical attention.

How to take the analysis?

In order for the blood test to be accurate and reliable, it is important to follow some rules for its delivery. For biochemical research blood is drawn from a vein

You need to donate blood in the morning, before meals. It is strictly not recommended to drink coffee or tea before a visit to the laboratory, it is only allowed to drink water.

After receiving the results of a laboratory study, you should not try to decipher them yourself. Most the right decision- refer to qualified specialist and accept his recommendations.

Symptoms of a decrease in urea

The decrease in urea in most cases is accompanied by severe symptoms. Before treating the symptoms, you need to consult a specialist and undergo the necessary examinations.

Low urea levels are accompanied by the following symptoms:

Flatulence;

Decreased appetite;

weight reduction;

Bitter eructation;

Heaviness in the liver;

General weakness and fatigue;

Puffiness.

If there are any of the above phenomena, this is an occasion to consult a specialist. The attending physician will carefully listen to all the symptoms and determine which types laboratory research need to go through. It is likely that the results of the analysis will show a decrease in urea in the blood.

Harmless causes of low urea levels

If the urea value is below normal, treatment is not necessarily required. This is just an indicator that allows you to determine the state of the body. If any diseases are detected during the examination, then medication measures may be required.

Often, a decrease in urea in the blood is associated with normal physiological conditions that do not require correction. For example, it could be:

Pregnancy;

Childhood;

Features of nutrition (low-protein diet)

During pregnancy, the level of urea tends to be reduced. This is due to the fact that maternal organism works for two, and the energy is spent differently. With an increased volume of blood, renal filtration increases and a pregnant woman has a reduced urea.

In serum, this figure may be reduced in very young children. During the growth process, there is an accelerated protein metabolism that affects the results of the study.

Low urea can also be due to the fact that there are not enough foods with high content proteins. The indicator may be less than normal with vegetarian and low-calorie diets.

If urea in the blood is reduced for one of the reasons described above, there is no cause for concern. This phenomenon is quite normal and over time, the indicators will recover on their own. However, there are other factors that can provoke a deviation from the norm.

Pathological causes of low values

Some problems in the functioning of the body can reduce the level of urea. Depending on how much this indicator is less than the norm, you can find out the reasons.

A slight and moderate decrease in indicators is possible with such conditions and diseases:

nephrotic syndrome;

Impaired absorption capacity in the intestine;

Chronic pancreatitis;

Complications after surgical interventions;

Congenital deficiency of enzymes.

All of these conditions require medical supervision. It's important to pass full examination to determine the extent to which the body can be helped to fight the disease.

There are more severe conditions. With such diagnoses, the deviation from the norm in the urea index can be very significant:

tumors;
necrosis of hepatic tissues;
hepatic coma;
hepatitis of viral etiology;
severe intoxication;
cirrhosis;
hormonal abnormalities.

Although urea itself does not perform any vital functions in the body. important functions, its indicator allows you to diagnose problems and determine the state of human health.

Ways to restore indicators

Before you begin to bring blood counts back to normal, it is worth determining true reason deviations. Depending on the data obtained, it is important to start treatment.

If the decrease was due to some disease, it is important to be examined and strictly adhere to the recommendations of the attending physician. Many diseases are successfully treated in the early stages.

When the reason lies in the wrong or unbalanced diet, the diet should be adjusted. For example, you need to include in the menu more products high in protein. It can be eggs, fish, meat and milk.

During pregnancy, it is very important to monitor the lifestyle and ensure that the food contains valuable substances for both the mother and the unborn child. For any signs of weakness or ailments, it is best to consult a doctor.

Urea in the blood is important diagnostic value. A blood test for urea is a mandatory study for patients with kidney and liver dysfunctions. Since urea is a specific product of protein metabolism, this analysis allows you to assess the degree of intensity of protein breakdown in the body.

By a pronounced increase in the concentration of urea in the blood, it can be judged that a violation of kidney function has occurred (chronic or acute renal failure). Proteins are often fixed in the urine at the same time.

It is important that the increase in dysfunction entails a complex process of penetration of urea through the gastrointestinal mucosa with subsequent conversion to ammonia, which, through its effect on the mucosa, activates its toxic inflammation (gastritis, duodenitis, etc.)

For reference. In sports medicine, the blood urea test is widely used to monitor the rate of recovery of the body after intense physical activity.

In the process of urea formation, toxic ammonia is actively detoxified in the liver.

Subsequently, urea from the liver cells is released into the systemic circulation and transported to the kidneys for further disposal in the urine. In this case, from forty to sixty percent of urea can be absorbed back into the blood.

The rate of reabsorption directly depends on the rate of tubular reabsorption in the kidneys and the level of ADH (antidiuretic hormone) in the body. Also, the volume of diuresis affects the level of urea. In patients with anuria (absence of urine) or oliguria (decreased amount of urine) against the background of acute kidney dysfunction or heart failure, exsicosis, thirst, etc., reverse suction urea in the blood increases sharply.

Due to this, elevated levels of urea in the blood plasma make it possible to suspect that the patient has significant deviations in the processes of glomerular filtration.

What is urea in urine and when is it examined

For reference. The level of urea in the urine is included in the list of basic studies conducted to monitor the excretory capacity of the kidneys. The urea index in blood plasma and urine, as well as their ratio, allows us to assess the degree of impaired renal function and to make a differential diagnosis between prerenal and postrenal azotemia.

Evaluation of the level of urea in the urine is usually carried out when a high level of urea in the blood is detected, to clarify the diagnosis and assess the excretory ability of the kidneys.

When is blood urea measured?

suspected liver and kidney disease;
assessment of the severity of acute and chronic insufficiency kidney function, as well as liver failure;
monitoring the effectiveness of the prescribed diet with maximum limited number protein intake (low protein diet) in patients with chronic renal failure;
violations of protein metabolism and any diseases accompanied by a violation of protein metabolism;
electrolyte imbalance;
dehydration;
anuria and oligonuria of any origin (acute renal failure, heart failure, shock, intoxication, sepsis, etc.;
carrying out differential diagnosis between prerenal and postrenal azotemias (in this case the ratio of urea and creatinine is estimated);
evaluation of kidney damage arterial hypertension and hypertensive crisis diabetes(diabetic nephropathy), atherosclerosis renal arteries(kidney ischemia);
monitoring the effectiveness of ongoing hemodialysis;
monitoring of kidney and liver function in the treatment of hepato- and nephrotoxic drugs;
carrying out intensive care;
pregnancy (blood urea is included in the list of standard studies);
malabsorption syndrome (syndrome of impaired absorption in the intestine);
abdominal trauma.

Urea to creatinine ratio

Attention. This coefficient (index) is determined in patients with azotemia, to clarify its type (prerenal, renal or postrenal). The index is calculated by the ratio of urea nitrogen to the level of creatinine. The normal nitrogen index is considered to be 15.

Prerenal azotemia is characterized by an increase in the index of more than 15. In this case, the glomerular filtration rate increases due to insufficient blood supply kidneys. As a result, there is a sharp increase general indicators nitrogen and creatinine.

Developing given state against the backdrop of a decline cardiac output and ischemia of the kidneys, as a result of their poor blood supply. Prerenal azotemias can develop in patients with heart failure, massive blood loss, or shock.

With the development of renal (renal) azotemia against the background of acute and chronic kidney failure, glomerulonephritis, tubular necrosis, gout, diabetic nephropathy etc., the index is below 15. At the same time, there is a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate and an increase in the level of creatinine with urea nitrogen in the blood.

Important. Urea in the blood is also increased in postrenal azotemia. In this case, the index exceeds 15. Postrenal azotemia can be observed in patients with vesicoureteral reflux, obstruction of the outflow of urine by a stone or tumor, hyperplasia prostate, hydronephrosis.

How to determine the level of urea in the blood

To determine the level of urea in the blood, venous blood (serum) is used, which is examined using the kinetic (urease) UV method.

In standard mode, analysis results can be obtained the next day. If it is necessary to urgently determine the level of urea in the blood, the analysis is performed in two hours.

The results of the study are recorded in mol / liter.

It is advisable to donate blood in the morning, before meals. It is forbidden to drink alcohol strong coffee, tea and sweet carbonated drinks.

What can affect the results of a blood urea test

nalidixic acid,
acyclovir,
allopurinol,
aminocaproic acid,
cefazolin,
cefixime,
cefoperazone,
cefotaxime,
cefotetan,
cefoxitin,
cefpodoxime,
ceftriaxone,
kanamycin,
levodopa,
lidocaine,
losartan, and a number of others, including vitamin D.

Attention! To obtain an adequate result, you should discuss with your doctor the temporary discontinuation of medication. Just don't make your own decision!

Drugs can lead to a decrease in the level of urea in the blood ascorbic acid, phenothiazine, treatment with anabolic hormones.

Urea in the blood - the norm

The rate of urea in the blood may vary slightly in different laboratories. The norm for urea in the blood for patients older than fourteen and younger than sixty years is from 2.5 to 6.4 mmol per liter. Some laboratories may report values from 2.5 to 8.3.

The norm of urea in the blood in women is somewhat lower than in men. With age, the upper limit of normal for urea increases. This is due to the age-related decrease in the filtration capacity of the kidneys. On average, urea values increase by 1 mmol per liter.

Urea norm in men in the blood can increase with active physical training. Such a picture is physiological if the increase is moderate and is not accompanied by a violation of the excretory function of the kidneys, a change in the level of creatinine, or other abnormalities in the analyzes.

Urea in the blood is the norm for women and men over sixty years old is from 2.9 to 7.5.

Attention. In children, urea in the blood largely depends on age. In the first few days after birth, the urea level in the baby corresponds to adult levels. In premature babies, blood urea is increased to 8.9 mmol per liter. The lower values are from 1.1.

Such azotemia, in this case, is physiological and is due to high catabolism, the lack of sufficient fluid intake into the child's body and low level filtration in the glomerulus. Physiologically increased urea for the first two or three days. Full normalization of values should occur by the end of the first week of the baby's life.

Further, blood urea in children is lower than in adults.

Urea in the blood is increased - causes

Such changes in the analyzes can be observed in patients with:

dehydration;
electrolyte imbalance;
violation of the utilization of protein decay products;
enhanced protein catabolism;
decreased excretory function of the kidneys (including age-related changes in elderly patients and children of the first days of life);
glomerulonephritis
pyelonephritis;
renal amyloidosis;
kidney tuberculosis;
acute and chronic renal failure;
heart failure;
shocks, blood loss, poisoning and intoxication;
burns;
intestinal obstruction;
violation of the outflow of urine (stones in the ureters and bladder, tumors Bladder etc). Elevated urea in the blood in men can be observed with hyperplasia or prostate cancer);
malignant neoplasms;
leukemia;
ketoacidosis against the background of diabetes mellitus;
fevers;
exhaustion.

Attention. Also, increased blood urea can be observed with excessive physical exertion (more often in men) and excessive intake of foods high in protein.

Urea in the blood is lowered - causes

severe liver diseases, accompanied by a violation of its function - cirrhosis, hepatitis, acute hepatodystrophy, hepatic coma, liver tumors, etc. (in this case, the synthesis of urea by the liver cells is directly disrupted);
phosphorus and arsenic poisoning;
hyperhydration (excessive fluid intake);
congenital diseases accompanied by a deficiency of enzymes necessary for the synthesis of urea;
acromegaly;
pathologically increased protein losses (syndromes of impaired absorption in the intestine: malabsorption, celiac disease, etc.);
impaired secretion of antidiuretic hormone;
hereditary hyperammonemia.

Attention. Also, a decrease in the level of urea in the blood is typical for vegetarians, patients on a low-protein diet or on hemodialysis.

A physiological decrease in urea is typical for pregnant women, especially in the third trimester, as well as children in the first week of life and up to 14 years of age.

What to do with an increased or decreased level of urea

Important! Violation of the utilization of protein degradation products always indicates serious violations kidney and liver functions. That's why self-treatment with help folk methods and diuretics are not allowed.

All drug therapy selected by the attending physician after a thorough examination.

It must be understood that with a decrease in kidney function, all treatment is carefully monitored. laboratory indicators. At the same time, the amount of not only the protein level, but even the amount of liquid consumed by the patient is calculated very carefully.

Attention. Non-drug correction of urea parameters can be carried out only if its decrease or increase is due to incorrect physical activity or malnutrition.

A biochemical blood test will help diagnose a number of various diseases and determine the number of components.

One of the main indicators of blood are creatinine and urea..

Creatinine levels play a huge role in patients with renal insufficiency. Urea is the end product of the breakdown of protein metabolism. Its main function is to neutralize ammonia. Its level in the blood and the rate of excretion indicate the health of the kidneys.

How to lower creatinine and urea with folk remedies?

Creatinine is a substance that is formed as a result of residual protein metabolism.. with ammonia non-protein compounds nitrogen, urea is responsible for creating residual nitrogen.

Creatinine is excreted by the kidneys. Any changes in the process indicate pathology urinary system. The norm depends on the level of development and accumulation muscle mass body.

In the elderly, an increase in creatinine is usually accompanied by muscle atrophy. When diagnosing, it is necessary to take into account the age group of the patient. At healthy men creatinine levels are higher than in women. The indicator is measured in the number of dissolved micromoles per liter of blood (µmol / l).

A blood test is taken in the morning on an empty stomach. it required condition. When protein is consumed, muscle activity becomes full, which will affect the objectivity of the analyzes.

Causes of elevated creatinine:

injury or illness that caused severe damage muscle tissue;
dehydration;
violation in urinary tract, their blockage;
intestinal obstruction;
kidney disease;
abuse of fish and meat dishes, as they contain many toxins that enter the blood and causing an increase creatinine;
taking medications;
excessive physical activity, backbreaking work or unusual loads.

a sharp decrease in muscle mass due to long fasting;
first and second trimesters of pregnancy;
vegetarianism;
dystrophic changes in muscle mass;
hyperhydria;
taking corticosteroids;
plentiful internal bleeding with neoplasms and ulcers, they activate the synthesis of creatinine.

An increase in creatinine in renal failure can also occur with other destructive processes:

injury, prolonged squeezing fabrics;
the operation performed;
extensive burn;
decaying neoplasm;
necrosis of the muscles of the heart (this can occur with myocardial infarction);
profuse bleeding, diarrhea, vomiting provoke a large loss of fluid.

Acute renal failure is manifested by vomiting, nausea and drowsiness. The face becomes edematous, the excretion of urine is disturbed.

At chronic form symptoms increase gradually: appear headache, general body aches, nausea.

What else is dangerous elevated creatinine:

There will be pain in the back.
Violated diuresis due to incomplete excretion of urine.
The blood pressure will rise.
Protein and red blood cells are found in the urine.
Consciousness will be confused, convulsions will appear.
A person is able to lose his appetite, he will experience shortness of breath, nausea, anemia.

Urea is a compound in the body that is formed as a result of the breakdown of various proteins.. The kidneys must remove it from the body. An increase in the level of urea indicates that the kidneys are not coping with their functions.

Causes of pathology:

Due to a violation of the filtration function of the kidneys, urea can return to the body and accumulate in the blood. The content of ammonia, creatinine, acetone and other substances toxic to the body will also increase.

Without a blood test, it is impossible to determine the level of urea. Symptoms of accumulation of toxins will be accompanied by fatigue, headaches, weakness, increased fatigue.

If you start this process, other symptoms will appear:

If urea is not excreted in the urine, urea and nitrogenous compounds will seep through the skin. "Uremic frost" will begin. White patches will appear on the face, nostrils and neck.

At chronic disorders kidneys are very difficult to lower the concentration of urea. conservative methods help if there is no serious illness.

Enhanced Level urea can lead to disturbances in the functioning of the brain and central nervous system.

Folk remedies

The following traditional medicine recipes will help lower blood creatinine:

Contraindications:

pregnancy (especially during pregnancy, you should not take sage, which can provoke a miscarriage);
lactation;
cancer of the mammary glands and uterus;
hypertension;
acute kidney disease.

How to lower creatinine in kidney failure with nutrition?

Drink one and a half or two liters of water per day. Too much fluid will cause increased loads on the kidneys.

Helps reduce breakfast creatinine boiled rice . Six tablespoons of rice are poured with cool water.

The liquid should cover the grains by two fingers. Rice is left to swell overnight, boiled in the morning, eaten without oil and salt.

Basic Rules:

Restrict protein food(products of animal origin). Protein cannot be completely eliminated.
Reduce salt and potassium in your diet. Potassium can accumulate in the body, and excretory system won't take him to required quantities. The ability of salt to retain fluid provokes an increase blood pressure. Maximum daily rate salt 2-3 g.

Exclude completely:

fat meat;
oily fish;
fatty milk;
yeast bread and pastries;
fried foods;
smoked meats;
spicy dishes;
spices, sugar, salt.

Restrict:

dietary meat;
chicken eggs (you can afford up to three pieces a week);
fish.

Everything must be excluded from the diet. nutritional supplements that contain creatinine. This is especially true for athletes.

How to lower blood urea at home with the help of diet and folk remedies? The level of urea in the blood, like the level of creatinine, is reduced with the help of traditional medicine only after the approval of doctors.

The main emphasis is on diuretic teas from rosehip, blackcurrant, parsley roots, St. John's wort, linden, black elderberry, juniper, corn silk, cornflower flowers.

Recipes for other remedies:

diet

Cherries, celery, apples, lemons, nettles, fruit and greens cocktails contribute to the removal of urea from the blood (you can use home-grown salads, arugula, chard, spinach, parsley, nettle, horsetail, mint, coriander, apples, apricots, bananas, mangoes, pears, grapes, avocados, melons, berries), Brussels sprouts, sorrel, asparagus.

Avoid overeating, starvation, thirst. You need to give up tobacco and alcohol.

Sub-products, fatty meat and fish, peas, lentils, beans, yeast should beware.

You can replenish the body with protein with dairy products. It is necessary to drink two liters of fluid per day, but do not overload the kidneys.

To normalize the level of creatinine and urea in the blood, you need to drink enough fluids, use diuretics, which will contribute to the good removal of these substances from the body, and adhere to proper nutrition.

By the level of carbamide (the second name of urea), one can judge the performance of the kidneys and liver, as well as control the state of muscle tissue. If it was found that the urea in the blood is increased, it is necessary to establish the cause without wasting time and proceed to treatment. Otherwise, the body will be poisoned by ammonia, which has a detrimental effect on internal organs and brain activity.

After we have eaten the next portion, the process of their processing and assimilation begins in the body. Food is broken down into elements: proteins, fats, carbohydrates. In turn, proteins are broken down into amino acids. As a result of protein metabolism in the body, a simple and final product containing nitrogen is produced - toxic substance ammonia (NH 3). To make it safe, the liver converts it to urea ((NH 2) 2 CO) through enzymatic action. The resulting compound is filtered from the blood into the renal glomeruli, and then excreted from the body along with the urine.

Urea is produced in the liver during the utilization of ammonia, the end product of protein metabolism. In diagnostics, it is used as an indicator of the state of the liver and kidneys. It is also used to judge other violations of the body. Minor deviations are normal, but if the urea in the blood has increased or decreased significantly, this is alarm signal for healthcare workers.

Facts about ammonia and urea

What is urea? It belongs to a group of substances called residual nitrogen blood. These are products of protein metabolism, which include nitrogen, but they do not belong to proteins. These elements are:

Ammonia;
Urea.

Ammonia is a toxic substance, so the body tends to process it into a more harmless urea. Urea is formed in the liver. From here, it enters the bloodstream to be transported to the kidneys, after which it is excreted from the body in the urine.

Urea has several names: carbamide, carbonic acid diamide, but in no way uric acid is a completely different substance.

Carbamide is formed quite quickly and is excreted by the kidneys at the same accelerated rate. All thanks to the simple structure of this element. It consists of:

Carbonic acid;

2 molecules of ammonia.

That is why in human body its level is minimal.

Despite its relative harmlessness, urea in the blood at high concentration toxic and dangerous. She easily overcomes cell membranes liver, kidneys, spleen. At the same time, it “pulls” water along with it, as a result of which the cells increase, and they can no longer function in a normal mode (hyperhydration of cells). Therefore, the level of diamide of carbonic acid is judged on the state and performance parenchymal organs(liver, kidney, spleen).

So what is urea for? For nothing. Together with food, vitamins and minerals enter our body. In the process of their assimilation, ammonia is formed. It is toxic and therefore dangerous to the body. To neutralize it, urea is formed in the liver. It is the end product of protein metabolism, and with its help, the body gets rid of excess nitrogen.

Norms for different age groups

The production of urea and its excretion from the body is a continuous process. Its level in the blood must meet certain standards.

In a healthy adult, a blood urea level of 660 mg/L is about 4 mmol/L. 20-35 g of diamide carbonic acid is excreted daily by the kidneys, which is 333.6-587.7 mmol.

The table shows the rate of urea in the blood by age group.

As you can see, the data differ both by age and by gender. In the blood of women, the content of this component is always lower than that of men. This is explained by the fact that men prefer protein foods, and their physical activity is higher. It is worth noting that high level urea in athletes is considered quite normal. The main thing is that the concentration does not exceed the threshold of 15 mmol / l.

With age functional activity kidneys decreases, as evidenced by an increase in the level of urea. The glomerular filtration rate falls and gradual increase the content of urea in the blood - physiological growth. Therefore, with age, the norms of urea increase.

How is the analysis carried out?

In a biochemical blood test, a patient is taken from a vein. In order for the study to be as accurate as possible, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

The fence is carried out in the morning;
The analysis is carried out on an empty stomach;
The day before, exclude physical and emotional stress;
For a day you need to give up alcohol and heavy food.

AT preventive purposes urea blood test is given once a year, and for diagnostics - in the direction of a medical worker.

Safe Reasons for Deviations

With intense physical exertion, the level of urea rises, so in men the level is higher, due to the development of muscles. Quite a few important role plays and food. The menu is poor in protein foods to reduce the concentration of urea, just as excessive consumption of foods rich in proteins increases the level.

Lack of chlorine in the human body, caused by refusal to consume table salt, provokes intensive production of urea.

During pregnancy, the body's need for vitamins, proteins, fats and minerals doubles. This is also reflected in biochemical parameters. Since protein consumption for a growing fetus increases, urea in the blood serum decreases.

With all these factors, there is a slight deviation from the standards. Over time, the level of carbamide stabilizes on its own, without third-party intervention.

Causes of increased urea in the blood

Elevated blood urea is a direct reflection of changes in glomerular filtration rate (kidney activity). At healthy person this rate is 125 ml/min. In the same time increased content urea in the blood occurs when glomerular filtration is reduced by about half. This indicates that an increase in urea in the blood is a belated sign of kidney failure. It cannot detect the disease at an early stage of development.

However, in medical practice biochemical studies are used quite often and the level of urea in the blood serum plays an important role in the diagnosis.

Why is urea in the blood elevated? Its level depends on 3 factors:

The number of amino acids formed after protein metabolism, since ammonia is then produced from them;
The efficiency of the liver (the ornithine cycle is used for the synthesis of urea);
The condition of the kidneys (for its excretion).

The reasons for the increase in urea in the blood are conditionally divided into 3 groups:

Physiological;
Medical;
Pathological.

To physiological factors refers to our diet, physical activity. If a person prefers protein foods, and it takes most his daily menu, then this can cause an excess of the norm of urea. The content of this element begins to grow at the consumption of 2.5 g of protein per 1 kg of weight. Fasting can also provoke an increase in (NH 2) 2 CO in the blood, as it is released from muscle tissue a large number of squirrel. physical activity and nervous stress- these are also factors that lead to the removal of protein from the muscles and, as a result, the results of studies on urea will be overestimated.

Large deviations can cause medications. The group of medicines that give a similar effect include:

Cephalosporins;
Anabolics;
Steroids;
corticosteroids;
salicylates;
Androgens;
Tetracycline;
"Eutiroks";
"Lasix";
Neomycin;
Sulfonamides.

The level of urea can increase when there is an increased breakdown of proteins and blood changes, the causes of these phenomena:

Temperature within 2 weeks;
Infectious diseases;
burns;
Sepsis;
Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract;
Tumors (leukemia, lymphoma);
Postoperative period;
Constipation;
Intoxication with phenol, mercury salts, chloroform;
Dehydration due to vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive sweating.

But still, the main cause is considered to be kidney dysfunction. An elevated level of urea in the blood is observed in the following disorders:

CRF - chronic renal failure. After the concentration of urea has increased, creatinine also increases. Analyzes show values over 10 mmol/l;
Blockage urinary tract stones or neoplasms;
Poor blood supply to the kidneys due to heart attack, dehydration, shock.

Clinical picture

Pathological symptoms

Elevated urea levels may be a sign of the development of the disease. To such pathological processes include:

Low blood urea? It's over a rare event which occurs due to:

Rigid diet, protein starvation;
hepatic coma;
Cirrhosis of the liver and liver failure;
Incorrect secretion of the thyroid gland;
Malabsorption - amino acids are poorly absorbed by the intestines;
Arsenic or phosphorus poisoning;
Acromegaly - high levels of growth hormone (somatotropin);
A consequence of dialysis.

The symptomatology of only a high level of this element will be described below.

Symptoms of high blood urea

Uremia is the intoxication of the body with nitrogenous wastes that have accumulated as a result of improper functioning of the kidneys. One such slag is urea. Its high level in the blood affects the well-being of a person. At first, the patient feels:

Fatigue;
General weakness;
Headache.

Without an appropriate response, the clinical picture worsens:

What is uremic plaque? Accumulating in the body, urea mineral substance, just shows through on the surface of the skin.

External symptoms of severe uremia (excess urea in the blood):

Dry and pale skin;
Brittle nails and hair;
Bleeding gums;
Frequent urge to go to the toilet;
visual impairment;
puffiness;
increased sweating;
Uremic powder is a crystalline coating on skin, the result of excessive accumulation of urea in the body.
The skin begins to smell like urine. This scent is impossible to get rid of. The only thing effective remedy how to reduce urea in the blood - this is hemodialysis.

note: two recent symptom- signs of extreme and terminal renal failure. Thus, urea is able to be deposited in the form of crystals, for example, on the pericardium, and each heartbeat is accompanied by a loud, sometimes audible snort. The old physicians called the pericardial friction noise the "death knell of the uremic." Of course, at present, such neglected situations are rare.

What can high urea levels lead to?

Urea in small quantities completely safe and non-toxic. But a high level is a sign of kidney dysfunction, which means that the kidneys do not remove toxic elements of metabolism from the body. This leads to water-salt and acid-base imbalance. happening hormonal disorders leading gradually to multiple organ failure.

It is also important that dangerous ammonia accumulates in the body and tissue poisoning occurs. If the level of urea is not reduced in time, then the whole body is saturated with it, and irreversible processes (necrosis) begin in the brain cells. Against this background, the patient may develop psychological and neurological diseases.

Measures to stabilize urea levels

If blood urea is elevated, it is important to identify the causes of the increase in order to determine how to treat them. Next measures will reduce the level of urea:

Revision of the diet (reducing the amount of protein);
decline stressful situations and hypothermia;
Exclusion of physical overvoltage;
Stabilization of water-salt balance;
Prevention of chronic and acute diseases kidneys.

If the upward deviation was caused by malnutrition, the patient is prescribed a diet and reduced physical activity. This should help muscle tissue to return to normal, and the kidneys to remove excess residual nitrogen components from the body.

Nutritionists have selected a list of products that reduce the level of urea in the blood. A list of banned "menu ingredients" was also created. There are several recommendations on how to withdraw excess and prevent a recurrence of the problem in the future:

There should be 6 meals per day;
Drink at least 2 liters of water per day;
Unloading days no more than 1 time per week.

The list of allowed products is quite extensive and varied, so there is no particular discomfort when following a diet:

Rabbit meat;
Chicken;
Turkey;
Dairy products;
Eggs;
Fish with a fat content below 8%;
Pasta and cereals 1-2 times a week;
Vegetables;
Fruit;
Vegetable and olive oil;
Juices and decoctions;
Weak tea and coffee;
From sweets: jelly, jam, jam, marmalade.

It is necessary to reduce consumption, and it is better to exclude completely from the diet:

Sausages;
Canned food - meat and fish;
Mayonnaise, ketchup, sauces;
Smoked products;
Salty dishes;
Fatty meat and fish, as well as broths based on them;
Sorrel;
Mushrooms;
cauliflower;
soda;
alcohol;
Strong coffee and tea.

If the urea level rises, then the doctor prescribes infusions of crystalloid solutions to reduce its concentration. In the event that such therapy does not help, the patient is prescribed hemodialysis, since there are no drugs to reduce uremia. Another remedy for uremia is a kidney transplant.

Phytotherapy

The following tools are used in traditional medicine, but they are unable to reduce the level of urea in the blood. After all, urea is the simplest compound of inorganic nitrogen, which is soluble. And in order to reduce the level of uremia, you need to turn urea into an even more soluble substance, and such a substance does not exist.

But on early stages diseases, herbal medicine allows, for example, to increase the volume of urine output, or the blood supply to the kidney, and then a temporary improvement can occur.

Chamomile;
Madder dyeing;
St. John's wort;
Quinoa;
Currant;
Rose hip;
Dandelion;
wheatgrass;
Liquorice root.

Below are a few recipes:

Any of the ingredients is used: chamomile, St. John's wort, quinoa. 1 st. a spoon healing herb poured 1 tbsp. boiling water. Wait 15 min. You can use it as a tea 2-3 times a day;
Rosehip decoction can be made from both berries and root. 2-4 roots of 5-10 cm each (minimum diameter 0.5 mm) are placed in a kettle with 1 liter of water and boiled for 0.5-1 hour. You can drink the decoction both cold and hot;
A decoction of any ingredient: licorice root, dandelion or wheatgrass. 1 st. a spoonful of phyto-bases is diluted in 2 cups of boiling water. Drink 3 times daily.

A sharp increase or decrease in the level of urea in the blood is a sign of improper functioning of the kidneys. The natural filter does not completely remove the decay products of protein molecules, urea accumulates, deteriorates general state patient.

Why is urea needed in the blood? What it is? What is the norm for people different ages? What does a violation of indicators in pregnant women mean? Answers in the article.

What is urea in the blood

Organic matter is formed at the final stage of the breakdown of protein compounds. Ammonia, penetrating into the blood, poisons the body. To neutralize the action active substance the liver converts the powerful toxin into carbamide (urea). A relatively harmless product enters the bloodstream, then excreted from the body with urine.

The level of urea shows how well the kidneys cope with the excretory function. The substance controls the work of muscle tissue, liver. Serious deviations in indicators are a reason for examination, clarification of the condition of the kidneys.

Reasons for increased rates

Elevated urea in the blood develops with an excess of protein or various pathologies:

feverish conditions;
nitrogen imbalance;
dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
the patient receiving 11-hydroxycorticosteroids;
excess L-thyroxine;
high physical activity;
the period after the operation;
the use of illegal drugs for active muscle building;
taking antibiotics, antitumor compounds, Acyclovir, NSAIDs, anti-pressure drugs, Cimetidine, fluorine and lithium preparations;
advanced age: at natural aging the body's kidney function decreases, the level of urea increases. Important point: indicators should not exceed the norm according to the table;
hyperprotein diet (more often in athletes).

Reasons for the lack of urea

Carbamide deficiency is less common than increased performance. In most cases, the causes are not associated with pathologies. A decrease in the level of urea often develops with complete starvation or a poor diet.

Sometimes deviations in indicators develop with serious diseases:

decompensated cirrhosis;
parenchymal jaundice;
violation of the metabolism of protein breakdown;
phosphorus or arsenic poisoning;
high levels of somatotropin hormone;
nephropathy (preeclampsia) of pregnant women;
condition after the introduction of glucose or hemodialysis.

When is an analysis ordered?

Urologist prescribes biochemical analysis blood when the patient has certain signs. The first signs are the development of causeless weakness against the background of intoxication, then digestive disorders, problems with other organs and systems appear.

Indications:

fatigue;
fast fatiguability;
lethargy;
headache.
change in the shade of urine, the appearance of foam, blood, the liquid loses color;
heaviness in the legs;
pain in the back, joints;
a sharp decrease in the volume of urine excreted;
pronounced swelling;
skin itching;
uremic "powder";
convulsions;
tendency to bleed;
development of diarrhea, vomiting, nausea;
decreased level of vision.

Contraindications

A blood test for urea has no restrictions. The study is safe, does not cause discomfort, the preparation is standard. Fence venous blood carried out in children of any age, the elderly, pregnant women, men and women, if there are indications for urea analysis.

Important:

increased levels of urea are more common;
excessive accumulation of urea provokes pronounced intoxication. Nitrogen components that are not excreted in the urine try to get out in other ways: molecules seep through the skin, uremic "hoarfrost" appears, mucous membranes and serous membranes. Doctors note the defeat of the urethra, eyes, digestive tract;
chronic form of uremic syndrome provokes sharp rise blood pressure, the development of pericarditis, problems with the blood supply to organs;
prolongs life by ten to twenty years, but often with severe sepsis appears, acute inflammation lungs, developing terminal stage life threatening illness.

How to prepare and how

To determine the level of urea, venous blood sampling is prescribed. These studies, together with other indicators, make it possible to identify the cause of deviations.

How to prepare:

a day before blood donation, refuse to take drugs, alcohol, food with a high protein content;
in the morning before the study, you can not eat and drink, take medications;
before the analysis, you can not undergo physiotherapy, go to the gym, it is advisable to be less nervous.

What it shows: results table

According to the results of a biochemical blood test, the doctor understands whether kidney function is impaired. Important to consider clinical picture understand the reasons for the deviations.

The norm of the level of urea in the blood: table

Deviations: table

Urea level (measurement in mmol/l)	Types and degrees of pathologies
Creatinine is normal, carbamide value is up to 10	Pathologies in other parts of the body (extrarenal diseases)
10 to 15.9	Defeat renal tissue (mild degree)
16 to 27	Renal failure (severity - moderate)
28 to 35 and up	Kidney failure (severe form)
From 50 and above	Severe stage of renal failure, high risk dangerous complications

On a note! Deciphering the test results is the task of a nephrologist or urologist. The patient must necessarily visit a specialist for the appointment of therapy, the selection of a complex of drugs. You can not hesitate to visit the doctor: in the absence of diet correction, misunderstanding of the factors against which urea in the blood is reduced or increased, a mild degree of renal failure can turn into severe. Effects running stages uraemias are often sad.

How to treat: therapy regimen

Urea in the blood is increased: how to treat pathology? Treatment of uremia begins even with minor deviations in performance. Important to remember: renal failure in the absence of therapy becomes severe, with IV-V degree, blood is cleansed outside the body, a donor organ transplant is needed. If the natural filter does not cope with its functions, then chronic hemodialysis is performed (over a long period). During the procedure, there is a risk of infection, and life-threatening complications often develop. For this reason, you can not postpone a visit to a medical facility: initial stages renal failure in most cases fully or partially reversible.

Therapy scheme:

adherence to a diet for patients with kidney tissue damage;
hormonal correction;
visits to hemodialysis sessions;
kidney transplant.

Find out the instructions for use;
renal failure (chronic and acute form);

death of nephrons;

accumulation of stones in the urinary tract;

heart failure;

sublimate poisoning;

neoplasms in the urinary tract.

Urea in the blood of a child

A growing organism responds to the following factors:

dehydration;

malnutrition, lack of vitamins, poor diet throughout the day;

protein deficiency or excess of meat, legumes, poultry, dairy products, cheeses;

high physical activity;

lack of rest.

In young children, the metabolism is more active, the products of protein breakdown are more actively excreted from the body. In newborns, indicators may increase in the first days.

If symptoms appear that signal problems with the kidneys, it is important to visit a urologist, take tests, including for urea. According to the results of the study, the specialist selects optimal diet, appoints medicines. At severe forms Chronic renal failure or acute renal failure requires hemodialysis to regularly cleanse the blood of accumulated nitrogenous substances. All actions are coordinated by the patient with the attending physician.

Video about the reasons elevated urea in the blood and on the treatment of acute renal failure: