What does uraemic mean?
Uraemic means relating to or affected by uraemia, a medical condition caused by the accumulation of urea and other nitrogenous waste in the blood when the kidneys cannot filter them effectively. The adjective is used in phrases such as uraemic patient, uraemic coma, and uraemic encephalopathy. It appears particularly in clinical discussion of severe kidney failure, dialysis, and related complications. Uraemic is chiefly the British spelling; the American spelling is usually uremic, and azotemic is also encountered in American medical usage. The word is formal and specialized rather than everyday vocabulary. Its unusual combination of roots referring to urine and blood reflects the historical attempt to describe a condition in which substances associated with urine build up in the bloodstream.
adjectiveRelating to or affected by uraemia, a condition in which urea and other nitrogenous waste accumulate in the blood because the kidneys are not filtering them effectively.
- Having, characterized by, or relating to uraemia.
"The patient became uraemic after both kidneys failed."
"The patient became uraemic after both kidneys failed."
"Doctors monitored him for uraemic encephalopathy after his kidney function deteriorated."
Uraemic joins Greek roots for urine and blood: the name points to urea accumulating in the bloodstream, not to urine flowing through it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does uraemic come from?
Uraemic comes through the related noun uraemia, formed from Greek roots meaning urine and blood. The same Greek element for blood also appears in words such as anaemia and haemoglobin, while the English noun has the American spelling uremia. The form uraemically is an adverb derived from the adjective.
Related word forms
How uraemic is actually used
This is a formal medical adjective. It is especially associated with British spelling, while American usage commonly uses uremic; azotemic is another chiefly American term for the same general condition.
Easily confused with uraemic
Uraemic is the usual British spelling, while uremic is the usual American spelling of the same adjective.