Changes

== Introduction  ==

== Introduction  ==

Azotaemia refers to an increase in the blood concentrations of '''urea''' and '''creatinine'''. Azotaemia occurs almost exclusively with renal failure that results in an inability to excrete these two metabolic products. [[Urea]] and [[Creatinine]] vary in the extent of the increase induced by renal pathologies (creatinine can show substantial increases from baseline, whereas smaller increases in urea are significant as levels generally increase by a much smaller factor) and also the timing of the increase - creatinine levels will rise and fall more quickly than changes in urea and can therefore be more useful in monitoring response to treatment.

Azotaemia refers to biochemical evidence of increase in the blood concentrations of '''urea''' and '''creatinine'''. Azotaemia occurs almost exclusively with renal dysfunction, resulting in accumulation of these two, but not the only, waste products of protein metabolism. [[Urea]] and [[Creatinine]] vary in the extent of the increase induced by renal pathologies (creatinine can show substantial increases from baseline, whereas smaller increases in urea are significant as levels generally increase by a much smaller factor) and also the time taken for the increase. The severity of the increase in the urea concentration is considered to be proportional to the severity of the clinical syndrome, as urea (60D) is known to have distribution equal to the total body water, unlike that of creatinine. The severity in the increased concentration of creatinine, however, may not necessarily represent a severe damage to the kidneys. It is recommended that creatinine clearance and not the mere concentration of creatinine should be used as an indicator to judge the severity of illness.

== Clinical Significance ==

== Clinical Significance ==

Azotaemia may cause the clinical syndrome of [[Uraemia|'''uraemia''']], affecting multiple organ systems. The causes of azotaemia are usually divided into pre-renal, renal and post-renal:

Azotaemia may cause the clinical syndrome of [[Uraemia|'''uraemia''']], affecting multiple organ systems, and may involve retention of an array of different toxins in the body, which a healthy kidney would have excreted in the urine.

 

The causes of azotaemia can broadly be classified into pre-renal, renal and post-renal, however clinical differentiation is always challenging, as the manifestation is almost always, overlapping.

=== Pre-renal azotaemia ===

=== Pre-renal azotaemia ===

This occurs following a direct insult to the kidney from several possible causes including:  

This occurs following a direct insult to the kidney from several possible causes including:  

*'''Exogenous toxins''' including heavy metals, [[Aminoglycosides|aminoglycosides]], [[Tetracyclines|tetracyclines]], polymixin B, cisplatin, antifreeze ([[Ethylene Glycol Toxicity|ethylene glycol]]), lilies in cats and grapes in dogs.  

*'''Exogenous toxins''' including heavy metals, [[Aminoglycosides|aminoglycosides]], [[Tetracyclines|tetracyclines]], polymixin B, cisplatin, antifreeze ([[Ethylene Glycol Toxicity|ethylene glycol]]), [[NSAIDs]], lilies in cats and grapes in dogs.  

*'''Endogenous toxins''' including haemoglobin, myoglobin and calcium.  

*'''Endogenous toxins''' including haemoglobin, myoglobin and calcium.  

*Infections such as '''pyelonephritis''', '''interstitial nephritis''' (as caused by [[Leptospirosis - Cats and Dogs|''Leptospira spp.'']] or '''granulomatous nephritis''' (as caused by the dry form of [[Feline Infectious Peritonitis]]).  

*Infections such as '''pyelonephritis''', '''interstitial nephritis''' (as caused by [[Leptospirosis - Cats and Dogs|''Leptospira spp.'']] or '''granulomatous nephritis''' (as caused by the dry form of [[Feline Infectious Peritonitis]]).