Common Misdiagnoses of Uremia

Uremia is a condition that occurs when the kidneys fail to work and urea and waste build up in the blood. In addition to kidney failure, other causes of uremia may include the following:

• dehydration
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• shock
• bleeding
• renal embolism
• occlusion

Underlying conditions that may also lead to uremia include Hepatitis B, pericardial effusion, liver failure, anemia, sickle cell, heart failure, cancer or urinary tract infection (this list is not exhaustive). Symptoms of uremia include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, loss of energy, headache, muscle cramps and twitches, drowsiness, skin discoloration, itching and abnormal skin sensations. If not properly treated, uremia can lead to further complications such as seizures, a coma and even death.

Diagnoses of Uremia

Treatment for uremia includes a medical history and physical examination. A diagnostic workup that includes the following may be ordered:

• CBC
• urine culture and colony count
• urinalysis
• sedimentation rate
• serum and urine osmolality
• chemistry panel
• cystoscopy and retrograde pyelography
• arterial blood gas analysis
• blood volume
• a nephrology consult
• a urology consult

Additional tests may include an abdominal CT scan, an ultrasonography and a renal biopsy. The numerous tests seek to determine any renal disease or obstruction in the bladder.

Treatment will depend on the severity of the condition as well as the existence of an underlying condition. In extreme cases, dialysis or a kidney transplant may be required. Determining an underlying condition and subsequently treating the condition may reduce some of the complications of the uremia.

Common Misdiagnoses of Uremia

Uremia may be mistaken for other conditions such as Alzheimer's, colorectal cancer, diabetic gastroparesis hiccups, itching and ketoacidosis. If the condition or any underlying disease is misdiagnosed or entirely missed, life-saving measures may be delayed or never administered. A misdiagnosis of uremia can be fatal in cases of total kidney shutdown or heart disease.

Talk to an Attorney

If you have uremia that was misdiagnosed and you suffered further harm because of delayed treatment, you have a cause of action for medical malpractice. You can recover both economic and non-economic damages if you can show that your medical provider was medically negligent. Economic damages include medical expenses and lost wages, while non-economic damages include less quantifiable losses such as pain and suffering and loss of consortium (marital relations). If you have lost a family member because of a misdiagnosis, you can bring a wrongful death action against the provider. Talk with an experienced medical malpractice attorney to discuss possible compensation.