Urea is the final product of protein metabolism, more precisely nitrogen of amino acids. Urea is produced by the liver during protein synthesis, it is removed by the kidneys together with the urine.
The remainder of this component in the blood allows you to judge the effectiveness of the kidneys, and any deviation from the norm of urea concentration should be alarming.
Elevated urea in a blood test usually indicates chronic or acute kidney disease. Very often against the background of kidney disease, along with the increase in the concentration of urea in the blood, its content in the urine decreases( because of the poor functioning of the kidneys, urea in the blood begins to accumulate).
It should be noted that urea and uric acid are different substances. Uric acid is mainly formed due to the breakdown of complex nucleic acids.
Urea in the blood
In adults, the urea level is determined by the biochemical blood test. For this, the blood is taken from the vein located on the elbow. For the results to be reliable, it is recommended that the blood be delivered in the morning and on an empty stomach( only drinking water is allowed).
The normal urea content is determined according to the age and sex of the person.
- newborns 1.7-5.0;
- children under 1 year of age 1.4-5.4;
- children under 15 years of age 1.8-6.7;
- adult women 2,0-6,7;
- adult male is 2.8-8.0.
The quantitative level of in urea blood depends on three factors:
- is the indicative level of amino acids in the body of protein metabolism( the amount of ammonia produced depends on them);
- liver condition( conversion to ammonia urea is dependent);
- state of the kidneys( removal of urea from the body).
During the increased intake of protein food in the body, and with significant destruction in the body of proteins, the formation of ammonia, and hence urea, increases.
When is this analysis assigned?
This indicator gives doctors an idea of the excretory function of the kidneys - their ability to remove unnecessary substances with urine. By its concentration in the blood, you can talk not only about the work of the kidneys, but also about the condition of the muscular system and the liver.
The indications for performing the of this laboratory test are:
- all forms of coronary heart disease;
- systemic connective tissue diseases;
- arterial hypertension( regardless of the duration of its existence);
- detection of abnormalities in the general analysis of urine in a screening study;
- liver disease, accompanied by a violation of its function( hepatitis, cirrhosis);
- suspected of inflammatory or infectious diseases of the kidneys;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which are characterized by a decrease in the absorption of food ingredients( celiac disease).
The concentration of urea in the blood means:
- The indicator of the excretory function of the kidneys, that is, the ability to eliminate with the urine the substances unnecessary to the body.
- Indicator of the state of muscle tissue. It is due to the fact that the protein, due to the breakdown of which urea appears, is contained mostly in the muscles.
- Data indicating the effectiveness of liver function. After all, urea is produced from ammonia in this organ.
Thus, urea in the blood is a significant indicator of the state of the liver, kidneys and muscles.
Causes of increased urea in the blood
Why is urea in the blood increased, and what does it mean? In fact, there are a lot of reasons why this indicator may be above the norm. And not necessarily they will be associated with some deviations in the life of the organism.
Causes, not indicative of disease, but over which there may be increased urea in the blood of an adult:
- As a result of taking some medications, for example, Lasix, Eutirox, Tetracycline, Corticosteroids, Sulfonilamides, cephalosporins, anabolic, neomycin, steroids, salicylates, androgens.
- Excessive consumption of protein foods or vice versa starvation.
- Because of intense physical activity.
- Nervous stress.
One of the main reasons for the increase in urea in the blood is associated with a violation of the excretory function of the kidneys, which can occur in a number of diseases :
- Acute renal failure, which first increases urea and then creatinine and is at least 10 mmol / l;
- Obstruction of the urinary tract by calculi or neoplasm;
- CRF( in parallel determine the concentration of uric acid, creatinine, cystatin C);
- Pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis;
- Decreased blood supply to the kidneys due to dehydration, shock, heart failure, myocardial infarction.
Also increased protein breakdown and, accordingly, increased urea biosynthesis( production of azotemia) cause many human diseases. :
- Hematological diseases( leukemia, leukemia, malignant form of anemia, hemolytic jaundice).
- Severe infections, including intestinal infections( dysentery, typhoid fever, cholera).
- Diseases of the intestines( obstruction, peritonitis, thrombosis).
- Burn disease.
- Neoplasms of the prostate.
- Shock.
To determine the nature of the disease, the medic treats urea in the serum in the dynamics. In this case, the patient is additionally sent to urine to determine the urea index in this material. For a reliable conclusion, the levels of erythrocytes, lymphocytes, blood sugar and other indicators and symptoms that allow to assess the patient's general health are taken into account.
Symptoms of
Elevated levels of urea in men and women in the blood can be determined by the following symptoms:
- pains in the lower back;
- problems with the outflow of urine, it is displayed too much( polyuria) or very little( anuria);
- increased blood pressure;
- swelling;
- formation in the urine of blood and protein.
In medicine, clinical signs of an increase in urea concentration in the blood are called a special term - uremic syndrome.
How to treat an elevated blood urea level
If a biochemical blood test reveals a patient's pathology, the doctor will first of all try to find out what exactly was its root cause, in other words, it will be necessary to undergo an additional examination in order to reveal the underlying disease. And of course, you will have to pass a second blood test.
At home, reducing the level of urea is achieved by reducing meat products from the daily diet, while the emphasis should be on fruits, vegetables, cereals and berries. It is recommended to drink broth of dogrose, juices, for the preparation of which fresh vegetables and fruits are used, diuretic tea.
But all this is good only if a person does not have any serious illnesses. In the same case, if the increase in urea in the blood - a consequence of the disease, then the problem of the level of urea will be solved by a doctor. Moreover, an increase in this indicator is only a reaction of the body to the problem that has arisen, this is a consequence.