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Causes of high and low urea in urine
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
A decrease in the excretion of urea in the urine occurs during the growth period, during pregnancy, and with a low amount of protein in the diet.
In clinical practice, determination of urea in urine is used to monitor the state of anabolism and catabolism processes in the body. This is of great importance, especially in critically ill intensive care patients receiving enteral (tube) and parenteral nutrition. Having determined which processes predominate in the patient (increased excretion of urea in urine indicates a negative nitrogen balance, decreased - a positive one), it is possible to calculate the amount of protein preparations required by the patient.
A positive nitrogen balance occurs in liver diseases accompanied by a decrease in urea formation; in cases of kidney dysfunction (simultaneous increase in the concentration of urea in the blood); and in the intake of hormones with anabolic action (growth hormone, testosterone, insulin, etc.).
Negative nitrogen balance is detected in patients in the postoperative period, with hyperfunction of the thyroid gland.
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