Elevated Urea
April 24th, 2019
Overview
An elevated serum urea may be an indicator of renal injury, though it may also be raised in the setting of dehydration, protein breakdown or a protein load.
Causes of Elevated Urea
Renal Failure
- Acute kidney injury
- Chronic kidney disease
Other Causes
- Dehydration
- Catabolic state - trauma, sepsis, starvation, corticosteroids
- Protein load - GI bleed (especially upper GI), high protein diet
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