Prerenal Azotemia

The kidneys' main function is to filter out waste from the body, mainly the blood, expelling this through either the urinary system or digestive tract. In this case of prerenal azotemia, the waste products in the blood aren't filtered, because the pressure / volume of blood flow passing through the kidneys deflate, and filtration either ceases or decreases in normalcy. Ultimately this leads to waste still remaining intact within one's blood, stopping the flow of urine, or not expelling enough of it in a day. The kidneys still function and work all right, but their primary filtering action stops. The build up of waste, namely creatinine and urea, is called azotemia. Tissues are then damaged in the long run, where organs then slowly give out over time.

The symptoms that show forth as a result are due to the kidneys not filtering the waste from the blood, and leaves room open for kidney failure. Other terms that this problem comes under are underperfusion and uremia, which are common to that of renal failure. Acid bases and electrolyte problems develop over time, and can be diagnosed with certain tests for prerenal azotemia. BUN and creatinine levels in particular are evaluated and tested upon. We will further look into treatment methods, after we oversee the causes and symptoms of this ailment.

Prerenal Azotemia Causes

Renal kidney failure has certain reasons backing its occurrence that lead the body to experience a change in kidney functions.

• Heat exhaustion
• Tularemia meningitis
• Influenza pneumonia
• Plague meningitis
• Haemophilus meningitis
• Bacterial meningitis
• Heat stroke
• Swine-avian influenza
• Avian influenza (H5N1)
• Burns
• Multiple myeloma
• Sepsis
• Shigella enteritis
• Sarcoidosis
• Carcinoma
• Pheochromocytoma
• Idiopathic anaphylactoid reactions
• Dehydration
• Ascites
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Vasoactive intestinal peptide tumor
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Myocardial infarction
• Hemorrhage
• Anaphylaxis
• Anorexia nervosa
• Panhypopitutarism
• Addison's disease
• Diarrhea
• Cardiac output reduction
• Congestive heart failure
• Shock
• Diabetes insipidus
• Postural hypotension
• Circulatory collapse
• Hypovolemic status
• Loop diuretic administration
• Fluid shift to extravascular compartment
• Salt wasting nephropathy
• Peptic ulcer hemorrhage
• Thyrotoxic crisis
• Jejunal vascular deformity
• Pyloric obstruction
• Small bowel obstruction
• Diabetic ketoacidosis

Prerenal Azotemia Symptoms

The symptoms showcased after the kidney stops filtering blood, can escalate over time, seemingly serious if not treated in time.

• Swelling
• Mouth is dry
• No urine expelled by the body
• Confusion
• Feeling thirsty
• Fatigue
• Alertness drops
• Pulse rate is fast
• Abdominal pain
• Skin color is pale
• Some cases patients experience excessive urination
• Blood pressure drops
• Mucus membranes are dry
• Heart function decreases
• Neck veins collapse
• Skin turgor is poor

Prerenal Azotemia Treatment

There are certain tests that are carried out on patients experiencing renal failure. Besides the aforementioned blood creatinine and BUN tests, there are also urine tests carried out to scrutinize creatinine and sodium levels in order to determine and check on the kidney's function. Specific gravity and osmolality are another two tests done on patients. The importance of detecting this problem is to immediately identify the cause and severity and correct the issue that started off the kidney failure in the first place. Hemodialysis, or peritoneal dialysis is carried out on patients. Changes in diet is important during this time, and the use of medication also come into play. Intravenous fluids are administered to patients, including products of the blood and blood itself to be able to increase the volume of blood and restore the function of the kidney. After this happens, the patient then switches to medication that will help in the heart's output, subsequently increasing the pressure within it as well. Medications involved are dobutamine, and dopamine, to name a few. Whatever cause is behind the problems of kidney failure are solved immediately to help the patient go back to his / her initial healthy state.

Prerenal azotemia can be treated in time provided that patients notice the changes that their bodies are undergoing, that either unexpected or not usual. One should seek help immediately and get the necessary treatment methods done to ensure that you go back to a state of normal kidney functioning. Have a safe tomorrow.