Treatment/Therapy
The therapy of uremia consists in the first sense of treating the cause, i.e. in most cases of renal insufficiency. If it is acute renal insufficiency, drugs can lead to a quick recovery. These include in particular diuretics, which lead to increased water excretion.
Urinary substances, such as urea and excess salts, are excreted with the water. It is also important to protect the kidneys from damaging influences and, for example, to lower high blood pressure by means of antihypertensive drugs. A low-protein and high-calorie diet can also be helpful.
Urea is produced by the breakdown of proteins in the body. If protein intake is reduced, less urea is formed. In addition, a high intake of fluids should be ensured, but under close control of the fluid balance.The absorbed liquid should also be excreted in similar quantities, otherwise water retention (edema) may occur.
In cases of severe urinary poisoning, immediate dialysis is the therapy of choice. In this procedure, patients are connected to a machine that filters all urinary substances from the blood. If uremia has led to acidosis in the blood, the administration of bicarbonate is indicated.
In very serious cases, a kidney transplant may be necessary if the kidney is permanently damaged. In all cases, however, it is also true that the most important therapy is to avoid risk factors. To this end, the consumption of tobacco and the intake of drugs that damage the kidneys as well as obesity should be reduced in order to prevent chronic kidney disease.
Duration/Prediction
Uraemia associated with acute or chronic renal failure is a serious disease and can be life-threatening if left untreated. Immediate intensive therapy is indicated to prevent any consequences. As a rule, the treatment also requires intensive monitoring in hospital.
In young patients, good treatment can quickly lead to a cure of renal failure. In old or chronically ill patients, lifelong therapy is usually required and in the end, often only a kidney transplantation will help, but it often takes months or even years to find a suitable donor kidney.
