A note on Urea Diuresis

Urea acts as an osmotic agent and causes polyuria. Causes of large amounts of urea that may produce urea diuresis is various and less appreciated in ICUs like.  

• Administration of high amounts of protein in enteral feed or parenteral nutrition, which eventually will catabolized to urea.
• Resolution from azotemia after AKI (Acute Kidney Injury)
• In Rhabdomyolysis or decub. ulcers where muscle protein catabolism results in the production of urea.
• In rare cases, urea at a dose of 30 g/day is used to treat SIADH  by increasing urinary solute excretion and enhance water excretion.