Bilateral kidney atrophy, left 8.6, right 7.4. Is this uremia?
Disease description:
Five years ago, I was diagnosed with chronic nephritis. During my most recent color ultrasound, significant bilateral renal atrophy was found. May I ask, does bilateral renal atrophy with left kidney size of 8.6 and right kidney size of 7.4 indicate uremia?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Bilateral renal atrophy, left kidney 8.6 cm and right kidney 7.4 cm, is not necessarily indicative of uremia, although there may be some association.
1. Definition of bilateral renal atrophy: Bilateral renal atrophy refers to reduced kidney size, usually caused by chronic diseases such as chronic glomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, and others.
2. Definition of uremia: Uremia is the terminal stage of chronic renal failure, primarily resulting from long-standing, untreated kidney disease leading to severe impairment of renal function and the inability to properly eliminate waste products and fluids from the body.
3. Association: Bilateral renal atrophy may lead to renal insufficiency, thereby increasing the risk of developing uremia. However, bilateral renal atrophy does not necessarily directly lead to uremia; other factors such as underlying cause and rate of disease progression must also be considered.
4. Diagnostic criteria: A serum creatinine level exceeding 707 μmol/L is generally considered diagnostic of uremia, at which point dialysis treatment is typically required.
