Uremic frost
Uremic frost is a colloquial description for crystallized urea deposits that can be found on the skin of those affected by chronic kidney disease.[1] In states of prolonged kidney failure and subsequent uremia, the high level of urea in the bloodstream leads to high levels of urea secreted by eccrine sweat glands as a component of sweat. As water evaporates off of the skin, it results in crystallization of the remaining urea.
This condition is more common in severe, untreated uremia and is associated with serum BUN levels >200. It is becoming rare in people with chronic kidney disease managed on long-term hemodialysis, with estimated prevalence between 0.8 and 3%.[2][3][4]
References
- ^ Dennis, Mark; Bowen, William Talbot; Cho, Lucy (2012). "Uraemic frost". Mechanisms of Clinical Signs. Elsevier. p. 556. ISBN 978-0729540759; pbk
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ Lynde, Carrie; Kraft, John. "Skin manifestations of kidney disease". Parkhurst Exchange. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ Falodun O, Ogunbiyi A, Salako B, George AK (March 2011). "Skin changes in patients with chronic renal failure". Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl. 22 (2): 268–72. PMID 21422624.
- ^ Udayakumar P, Balasubramanian S, Ramalingam KS, Lakshmi C, Srinivas CR, Mathew AC (2006). "Cutaneous manifestations in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis". Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 72 (2): 119–25. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.25636. PMID 16707817.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)