Why Uremia Patients Need to do Dialysis

Why do patients with kidney disease have to do Dialysis when enters into uremia stage?

Normally, kidney are the two “sewage treatment center” of human body, which are responsible for dispose of the wastes. Once kidneys have pathological changes and could not work as well, some of the wastes then could not be excreted out of the body and would build up. All of these wastes are the toxins that cause uremia, which’s life-threaten. The wastes can be divided into three major groups.

1.Small molecular toxins

These toxins’ relative molecular mass is below 500, which mainly include inorganic phosphorous, hydrogen ion, certain acid radicals, and urea, creatinine, uric acid, phenols and amines. Cyanate- metabolic product of urea- is neurotoxic. When creatinine reaches certain concentration, the life span of the cells would shorten, hemolysis would happen. Drowsiness and fatigue can also happen. Uric acid can cause gout. High-concentration polyamine can cause nausea, vomit and proteinuria, promotes the dissolution of red blood cells and restrain the production of EPO, resulting in anemia. Phenols can damage the nervous syImmunotherapy. Either excessive concentration of potassium ion or hydrogen ion can be life-threatening.

2.Middle molecular toxins

These toxins’ relative molecular mass is between 500 and 1000, which mainly are some peptides, which can cause peripheral nervous lesions, abnormal glucose tolerance, and also restrain the cell production, phagocytic activity of leucocytes, the growth of lymphocytes and fibrocytes.

3.Large molecular toxins

These toxins’ relative molecular mass is more than 1000, mainly containing some hormones, such as growth hormones, parathyroid hormone, corticotrophin, gastrin, insulin, which can cause central nervous syImmunotherapy dysfunction, calcification or necrosis of soft tissue, bone disease, pruritus, hyperlipemia, anemia, erectile dysfunction and secondary hyperthyroidism.

As listed, all of these toxins would lead to serious consequences if they are building up in the body. So the major task of the treatment of uremia is to get rid of the toxins. Dialysis, whether it is hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, can help clear the small and middle molecular toxins out of the body. So the kidney patients can sustain their lives.