Uremic frost

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Uremic frost on forehead and scalp

Uremic frost is a colloquial description for crystallized urea deposits that can be found on the skin of those affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD).[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 the skin, it results in crystallization of the remaining urea.[citation needed]

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

  1. ^ 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)
  2. ^ Lynde, Carrie; Kraft, John. "Skin manifestations of kidney disease". Parkhurst Exchange. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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. hdl:1807/5641. PMID 16707817.