Changes

===Pathophysiology===

===Pathophysiology===

The kidney has multiple metabolic functions, removing nitrogenous waste from the plasma, maintaining electrolyte and acid/base balance and producing hormones such as erythropoietin (EPO).  Renal failure causes alterations in all of these functions causing the clinical signs of uraemia.

The kidney has multiple metabolic functions, removing nitrogenous waste from the plasma, maintaining electrolyte and acid/base balance and producing hormones such as erythropoietin (EPO).  Renal failure causes alterations in all of these functions and produces the clinical signs of uraemia.

Failure to excrete nitrogenous waste leads to azotaemia and, although this term refers specifically to urea and creatinine cocnentrations, multiple other forms of waste are retained and contribute to the clinical syndrome.  The nitrogenous waste causes pathological changes of '''arteriolar fibrinoid degeneration''' throughout the body.

Failure to excrete nitrogenous waste leads to azotaemia and, although this term refers specifically to urea and creatinine cocnentrations, multiple other forms of waste are retained and contribute to the clinical syndrome.  The nitrogenous waste causes pathological changes of '''arteriolar fibrinoid degeneration''' throughout the body.