Renal Azotemia and Receiving Social Security Disability
Renal azotemia is one of the three kinds of azotemia. The other two are postrenal azotemia and prerenal azotemia. Azotemia is a medical condition that is evidenced by abnormal levels of nitrogen-rich and nitrogen-containing compounds like creatinine, urea and various body waste compounds in your blood. This relates to insufficient filtering of your blood by your kidneys. Renal azotemia is marked by abnormal levels of nitrogen-containing and nitrogen-rich compounds in your blood just like the other two types of azotemia. The type of azotemia is determined by the cause of the condition. All three types share some common features. For example, all forms of azotemia are characterized by a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of your kidneys and increases in your creatinine serum concentrations and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). The BUN-to-creatinine ratio is a useful measure in determining which type of azotemia you have. Azotemia is also a clinical sign of a broader condition known as uremia. Uremia refers to illnesses that coincide with kidney failure. Renal azotemia is an intrinsic disease of your kidney. It is generally the result of renal parenchymal damage. This is the type of azotemia that usually leads to uremia. The BUN-to-creatinine ratio for renal azotemia is normal, which is less than 15. Although your glomerular filtration rate is decreased, and both your blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels are increased in your blood, no BUN is reabsorbed from the filtrate because of your damaged proximal tubules. The result is that BUN is lost into your urine just like creatinine. Azotemia is a somewhat common problem. It begins frequently during a hospital stay. Hospital acquired azotemia occurs in around 5% of all hospital admissions. There are several ways that renal azotemia may affect you. Some of these ways are:- Weakness and fatigue
- Confusion or a seizure
- Pain or urgency with urination
- Inflammation and edema (swelling)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Hyperkalemia (an elevated level of potassium in your blood)
- Difficulty in performing daily activities or extreme muscle weakness
- Frequent urination.
- Decrease in urine output.
