Urea is a molecule that ensures the removal of nitrogenous substances from the body and is cleared from the blood through the kidneys. Due to the decrease in kidney functions, urea cannot be filtered sufficiently and the amount of urea in the blood may increase.
What is Urea?
Chronic kidney disease can develop due to many different conditions. Damage to the kidney as a result of the disease causes deterioration in kidney functions. Therefore, the kidney; It cannot fully fulfill its task of filtering waste materials, harmful compounds and excess fluid in the body.
Urea is a nitrogenous compound formed as a result of the breakdown of proteins. Nitrogen, which is formed as a result of the breakdown of proteins, can turn into harmful compounds and lead to the accumulation of toxic substances in the body. Urea allows the excess nitrogen in the body to be filtered through the kidneys and excreted in the urine. Therefore, the answer to the question 'What is urea good for?' is briefly; It can be given as 'Urea ensures that nitrogen, which can be harmful to the body, is excreted in the urine.'
Foods taken into the body through diet are digested. As a result of this digestion, the proteins in the food are broken down into molecules called amino acids. Of these nitrogen-containing amino acids, the excess of the body needs to be excreted. Amino acids are first converted to ammonia in the liver and then to urea, which is less toxic than ammonia. Thanks to its water-soluble structure, urea is excreted out of the body with urine.
For detailed information about kidney diseases, you can read our article on Kidney Diseases.
What Should Urea Value Be?
Blood urea nitrogen (Blood Urea) is used to measure the amount of urea in the blood. A test called Nitrogen, BUN) is done. This test is applied by examining the sample taken for blood analysis in the laboratory by various methods. Since urea can be measured with a simple method such as a blood test, it can be done easily. Urea reference range for values measured with BUN; may vary depending on various parameters such as age, method used in the laboratory. However, urea values that are considered normal are 7-20 mg/dL.
What is High Urea in the Blood?
The amount of urea in the blood; kidneys not working well It can be seen due to many reasons such as kidney stones, urinary tract infection. Normal urea values in the blood are 7-20 mg/dL. Values above this value are considered high. An excess of urea in the blood is called uremia. A high urea value measured by BUN may indicate a decrease in kidney function.
Urea excess may occur as a result of the kidney not performing its function fully. In such cases, urea and creatinine-urea ratio can be used together to evaluate the kidney. Creatinine is also a value that can be measured with a blood test.
What is Low Urea?
Values below 7-20 mg/dL, which is determined as the normal range for blood urea level, are considered low urea. Low urea; It can be seen in liver diseases, in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Nutritional disorders can also lead to a decrease in urea levels. The BUN value in children and women is lower than in men.
Why Is Urea High?
Urea in the blood is filtered by the kidneys and excreted in the urine. Uremia, that is, the excess amount of urea in the blood, occurs as a result of damage to the kidneys. This damage to the kidneys can be serious and irreversible. In this case, the kidney cannot filter the urea and the amount of urea in the blood increases. Uremia is a very serious condition and can cause life-threatening problems if left untreated.
Conditions that increase the amount of urea in the blood by causing chronic kidney disease:
- High blood pressure
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Kidney inflammation
- Prostate enlargement
- Some types of cancer
- Recurrent kidney disease infections
- Kidney stones that cause long-term obstruction in the urinary tract
- Extreme weakness and fatigue
- Cramp formation in the legs, feeling of pain
- Decreased appetite, not eating
- Headache
- Nausea, vomiting
- Difficulty concentrating
- It can be counted as itching.
How to Lower Urea?
The development of uremia in the patient indicates severe damage to the kidneys. Therefore, the treatment of uremia is basically dialysis. Dialysis; With the help of a specially developed filter, it ensures the removal of waste materials, excess fluid and toxic substances in the body. In the dialysis method called hemodialysis, a vascular access is opened to the patient and this blood is directed to the filter. This filter in the dialysis device; filters harmful substances and extra fluid from the blood. In this way, excess urea is removed from the patient's blood. For hemodialysis, the patient needs to go to the dialysis center about three times a week and spend a few hours there.
Peritoneal dialysis is another method of dialysis. In this method, fluid is given to the patient's abdomen through a thin tube. This fluid disperses in the abdomen and absorbs harmful substances and excess fluid in the body. Then this liquid is discharged again through a tube. Peritoneal dialysis is a method that the patient can apply himself. However, for this, the patient must be conscious and be able to practice some technical issues. Peritoneal dialysis is a more preferable application in terms of patient independence. Which method is more suitable for the patient should be determined together by the patient and the doctor.
Kidney transplantation is an option that should be considered for treatment in patients with severe and irreversible kidney damage. If the patient's health condition is suitable for transplantation and there is a kidney that fits the patient, transplantation can take place. Kidney transplant patients do not need dialysis. Transplant patients need to use immunosuppressive drugs for a long time so that the body does not reject the organ.
Patients undergoing dialysis treatment should not interfere with the treatment. An increase in urea may be observed in the blood in cases such as interruption of the treatment or not going on the day of dialysis.
Kidney damage may develop due to an underlying disease. In such cases, it is very important to treat the underlying disease. Treatment of the related disease can slow down or stop kidney damage. For example, strict blood sugar control in diabetes patients or controlling blood pressure with drugs in blood pressure patients have a positive effect on damage. Removal of the stone from the urinary tract is an important part of the treatment in the formation of uremia due to kidney stones.
Whatever the Urea Value, Dialysis Can Be Entered?
For dialysis treatment, an evaluation cannot be made by looking only at the urea value. A urea level above 20 mg/dL may be considered as the urea hazard limit, but this alone is not sufficient for dialysis. The doctor decides on dialysis by evaluating the keratin and electrolyte levels in the blood, the parameter that shows the filtration rate of the kidney called GFR, and many other factors together. For this reason, it is not correct to determine the treatment by looking at the amount of urea in the blood alone.
Uremia is a condition that needs urgent intervention. It would be beneficial for people who show signs of uremia to apply to a well-equipped hospital immediately. Patients with chronic kidney disease should consult with a specialist doctor to evaluate possible treatment options.
You can ask the expert team of Group Florence Nightingale Hospitals about the issues you are wondering about, and you can ask for suggestions regarding your question. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.
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