Etymed
azotemia
Definition
Abnormal elevation of nitrogenous waste products in the blood, particularly urea and creatinine, indicating impaired kidney function
Clinical context
A 65-year-old male presents to the emergency department with decreased urine output and confusion over the past 2 days. His serum creatinine is 4.2 mg/dL and BUN is 45 mg/dL. He has a history of heart failure and was recently started on lisinopril. These findings are consistent with azotemia secondary to prerenal acute kidney injury.
Mnemonic
AZOTEMIA - A zebra has a Zebra stripe pattern, like the kidneys have a striped appearance when damaged, and both are affected by nitrogenous waste accumulation