What is increased in the blood during azotemia?

During azotemia, there is an accumulation of nitrogenous waste products in the blood, primarily due to impaired kidney function. Azotemia is characterized by increased levels of substances such as urea, creatinine, and other nitrogenous compounds that are normally filtered and excreted by the kidneys.

In healthy individuals, the kidneys effectively remove these waste products from the bloodstream. However, when the kidneys are not functioning properly—due to conditions such as acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, or dehydration—these nitrogenous compounds begin to accumulate. As a result, the blood levels of urea and creatinine rise, which is indicative of azotemia.

In contrast, while other options such as oxygen levels, electrolytes, and proteins can also fluctuate in various medical conditions, they are not specifically associated with azotemia in the same direct manner as nitrogenous compounds are. The primary hallmark of azotemia is indeed the increase in these nitrogenous waste products.