Is uremia serious in the early stages?

Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
Updated on May 11, 2025
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In the early stages of uremia, although the condition is not as severe as in full-blown uremia, the patient will still experience many uncomfortable symptoms. For example, after getting up in the morning, the patient may notice swelling in the eyelids on both sides, feel nauseous and have a significant decrease in appetite. They may also feel fatigued and tired after physical activity. Additionally, changes in the volume of urine occur, such as an increase in the frequency of nighttime urination to three to five times. Patients may also experience varying degrees of dizziness, headaches, and gradually increasing blood pressure that is difficult to control. Other symptoms include itchy skin and muscle soreness, among other clinical signs. Therefore, timely treatment in the early stages of uremia is necessary to slow the rapid progression of chronic kidney disease to the uremic stage.

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Can uremia be cured?

First, it is necessary to clarify the cause and the severity, so it is important to visit the nephrology department for comprehensive tests. Once the cause is determined, the next steps can be planned based on the results, and dialysis may be necessary if required. If there is no improvement, treatments such as kidney transplantation can be considered. It is also crucial to rest, avoid fatigue, reduce activities, especially strenuous activities, maintain a positive mood, adjust your mentality, and have regular follow-ups. Therefore, this issue needs to be actively addressed, as it can be very troublesome to manage and the prognosis may be very poor if not taken seriously.

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Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
55sec home-news-image

Is uremia serious in the early stages?

In the early stages of uremia, although the condition is not as severe as in full-blown uremia, the patient will still experience many uncomfortable symptoms. For example, after getting up in the morning, the patient may notice swelling in the eyelids on both sides, feel nauseous and have a significant decrease in appetite. They may also feel fatigued and tired after physical activity. Additionally, changes in the volume of urine occur, such as an increase in the frequency of nighttime urination to three to five times. Patients may also experience varying degrees of dizziness, headaches, and gradually increasing blood pressure that is difficult to control. Other symptoms include itchy skin and muscle soreness, among other clinical signs. Therefore, timely treatment in the early stages of uremia is necessary to slow the rapid progression of chronic kidney disease to the uremic stage.

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Written by Zhou Qi
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How to diagnose uremia

Uremia is the final state of chronic renal failure. This disease cannot be diagnosed through physical examination and medical history inquiry alone. Diagnosis requires testing, combined with the patient's physical examination and medical history, to comprehensively determine the diagnosis. Patients with uremia first need to have a blood test to check kidney function, with blood creatinine levels needing to exceed 707μmol/L. Secondly, they should undergo an ultrasound of the urinary system. Typically, the kidney size in such patients is reduced, which can be detected by the ultrasound. These two diagnostic methods used together can diagnose uremia. Patients also need to be checked for potential complications caused by uremia, such as measuring blood pressure and performing a complete blood count to check for renal anemia, among others.

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Written by Zhou Qi
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Is high creatinine uremia?

High creatinine levels do not necessarily indicate uremia. High creatinine often implies that the patient is experiencing renal failure, which can be classified into acute renal failure and chronic renal failure based on factors such as the patient's medical history and course of the disease. Uremia is the final state of chronic renal failure. Thus, even if high creatinine levels suggest the possibility of chronic renal failure, it does not necessarily mean that the patient has reached the final stage. Uremia, also known as end-stage renal disease, generally requires a patient's blood creatinine to exceed 707 µmol/L. Additionally, patients often simultaneously present with clinical manifestations such as renal anemia, disorders of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and reduction in kidney size.

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Symptoms of pre-uremia

The pre-uremic stage is the period of chronic renal failure. During the pre-uremic stage, many patients may have no symptoms at all. However, some patients do experience many uncomfortable symptoms, such as back soreness and weakness, fatigue, and feeling cold easily. During this stage, patients may also experience nausea and vomiting, especially pronounced nausea after waking up in the morning, as well as weight loss. Some patients in the pre-uremic stage exhibit symptoms of edema, which can occur in the eyelids, facial area, or in both lower limbs. Additionally, patients may experience feeling cold, anemia, and an increased frequency of urination at night. Of course, some patients may also experience itching of the skin on both lower limbs.