Urine Sediment Casts

Question 1

What are casts

Answer 1

Dorm in distal tubules and collecting ducts. ANd are cylindrical molds made of mainly Tamm-Horsefall mucoprotein

Question 2

What does a cast appearance depend on

Answer 2

The time it spends in the tubules prior to being shed

Question 3

Cellular, granular and waxy casts

Answer 3

Represent different stages of cell degeneration in order

Question 4

Hyaline casts

Answer 4

Form in absence of cells and protein only. Rounded ends and parallel sides (cigar shaped) see low number in health

Question 5

High numbers of hyaline casts

Answer 5

Proteinuria especially glomerular proteinuria

Question 6

Epithelial Cell Casts

Answer 6

Desquamation of epithelium from renal tubules and shed shortly after being formed. Indicate renal tubular disease. Non are seen in health

Question 7

Causes of epithelial casts

Answer 7

-Ishemia
-Infarction
-Nephrotoxicity
Earliest indicator of renal tubular cell injury

Question 8

Granular casts

Answer 8

Degenerated cellular casts (Epithelial, WBC, RBC). Low numbers in health after exercise

Question 9

Large number of granular casts

Answer 9

-Nephritis
-Nephrotoxin
-Infection
-Protein losing nephropathy

Question 10

Waxy casts

Answer 10

Long standing granular casts. Have sharp squared off ends and smooth but more refractile than hyaline. Indicates chronic tubular lesions. Often associated with severe renal disease and are always pathologic