uremia

(ū-rē′mē-ă)

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[uro- + -emia]
Intoxication caused by the body's accumulation of metabolic by-products normally excreted by healthy kidneys.
SEE: azotemia; SEE: uremic coma
uremic (ū-rē′mik)
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, adj.

ETIOLOGY
Although nitrogen-containing waste products have long been considered the principal cause of uremia, other metabolic waste products (such as glycosylated wastes and by-products of abnormal oxidation) may be the most important toxins responsible for uremia.

SYMPTOMS
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, anorexia, headache, dizziness, coma, or convulsions.

TREATMENT
Dialysis removes many soluble waste products that accumulate in renal failure and helps improve some conditions associated with uremia. Other uremic conditions can be alleviated with a protein-restricted diet, careful management of acid-base balance, and calcium and folate supplementation.

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