Urinalysis Flashcards
Urinalysis
The process of testing urine for biochemical markers
Protein
Normal urine proteins should be <0.15 g/d
30% of the proteins will be albumin
Benign proteinuria
Can be caused by strenuous exercise, poor posture and pregnancy
Pathological proteinuria
Can be caused by acute illness, UTI, diabetic nephropathy, nephrotic syndrome and pregnancy-induced hypertension
Blood
In normal urine blood should be undetectable
Haematuria
Haematuria is cloudy red urine containing intact erythrocytes
Can be due to trauma, tumours, infections and drug side-effects
Haemoglobinuria
Haemoglobinuria is clear pink urine containing haemoglobin
Can be due to intravascular haemolysis or lysis of erythrocytes in the urinary tract
Myoglobinuria
Myoglobinuria is urine containing myoglobin
Can be due to severe muscle disease
Bilirubin
Bilirubin is the breakdown product of haem and should be excreted mostly in the faeces
Bilirubinaemia
High bilirubin levels in the urine can be due to biliary obstruction, liver disease or haemolytic disease
Urobilinogen
Urobilinogen is a product of bilirubin reduction, most urobilinogen is recirculated via the portal vein
High urobilinogen = liver disease, haemolytic disease
Low urobilinogen = biliary obstruction
Glucose
Glucose should be undetectable in the urine
Glucosuria
Can be caused by diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes, severe acute illness and kidney disease
Ketones
Ketones should be undetectable in the urine
Ketonuria
Can be caused by starvation, uncontrolled diabetes and inherited metabolic diseases
