What is the medical term for mild elevation of urea (U)?

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Last updated: February 25, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

The medical term for mild elevation of urea is azotemia. This condition is commonly associated with cardiac disease and is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular events, as noted in the acc/aha 2007 guidelines on perioperative cardiovascular evaluation and care for noncardiac surgery 1. Key points to consider in the context of azotemia include:

  • Maintenance of adequate intravascular volume for renal perfusion during diuresis, especially in patients with heart failure (HF)
  • The potential for excessive diuresis, in combination with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, to result in increased blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine concentrations
  • The importance of not discontinuing these drugs due to small increases in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, as they have been shown to improve survival in patients with HF due to systolic dysfunction 1. In clinical practice, managing azotemia involves careful monitoring of renal function and adjustment of medications as necessary to balance the benefits of treatment with the potential risks of renal impairment.

From the Research

Medical Term for Mild Elevation of Urea

  • The medical term for mild elevation of urea is not explicitly stated in the provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Definition of Uremia

  • Uremia is a condition characterized by high levels of urea in the blood, which can occur in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) 3, 6.

Classification of Uremia

  • A study published in 1980 described a model for inducing varying degrees of stable uremia in rats, with mild uremia defined as blood urea levels of 40-80 mg/100 ml (6.68-13.36 mmol/1) 5.

Toxicity of Urea

  • Recent studies suggest that urea is toxic at concentrations representative of CKD and can induce molecular changes related to insulin resistance, free radical production, apoptosis, and disruption of the protective intestinal barrier 3, 6.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Urea, a true uremic toxin: the empire strikes back.

Clinical science (London, England : 1979), 2017

Research

Uremic thrombocytopathy is not about urea.

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN, 2010

Research

Urea and chronic kidney disease: the comeback of the century? (in uraemia research).

Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association, 2018

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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