ESRD-specific tests such as BUN, Creatinine, and URR are indicators of what?

ESRD-specific tests such as BUN, Creatinine, and URR are indicators of what?

• A. Indicators of infection
• B. Indicators of the adequacy of the renal replacement therapy
• C. Predictors of anemia
• D. Measures of blood pressure

Answer: (C)

These tests gauge how effectively dialysis removes waste products from the blood. BUN and creatinine are waste products that accumulate when kidney function is poor, so after a dialysis session you look at how much they drop. The urea reduction ratio (URR) expresses the fraction of urea removed during a session, calculated from pre- and post-dialysis values. Together, they indicate the adequacy of the renal replacement therapy—whether the dialysis dose is sufficient to meet the patient’s waste-clearing needs. They don’t directly measure anemia or predict blood pressure; anemia is tracked with hemoglobin and iron studies, and blood pressure is monitored separately.

These tests gauge how effectively dialysis removes waste products from the blood. BUN and creatinine are waste products that accumulate when kidney function is poor, so after a dialysis session you look at how much they drop. The urea reduction ratio (URR) expresses the fraction of urea removed during a session, calculated from pre- and post-dialysis values. Together, they indicate the adequacy of the renal replacement therapy—whether the dialysis dose is sufficient to meet the patient’s waste-clearing needs. They don’t directly measure anemia or predict blood pressure; anemia is tracked with hemoglobin and iron studies, and blood pressure is monitored separately.