Azotemia

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.

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Uremia can be used as a synonym, or can be used to indicate severe azotemia, in which symptoms are produced.

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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.

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Other causes of azotemia include congestive heart failure, shock, severe burns, prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, or some sort of trauma to the kidney(s).

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Creatinine: 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)....

Blood: Blood is a circulating tissue composed of fluid plasma and cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). Medical terms related to blood often begin in hemo- or hemato- (BE: haemo- and haemato-) from the Greek word "haima" for "blood"....