Urea

Normal Range  5-6 mmol/l

  • with creatinine used as crude guide to glomerular function
  • derived in liver from amino acids (from diet or tissue)
    • can be increased by diet, tissue breakdown, anabolic states (recovery from acute illness)
    • disproportionate rise (compared to creatinine) in GI bleeds - massive protein meal
    • can be decreased by liver disease
  • in dialysis diffuses readily across membrane so is poor guide to efficacy
Increased Urea due to
  • impaired GFR
  • high protein intake
  • GI tract haemorrhage
  • catabolic states
  • reduced urine flow
  • dehydration
  • drugs
    • steroids
    • tetracyclines
 Decreased urea due to

Disorders

 

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