Question

Urine Sediments Cells and Organisms

Explain why each of these sediments would appear in a sample of urine?

a. red blood cells, white blood cells, squamous epithelial

b. struvite, calcium carbonate, calcium ovaries

c. Hyaline cast, erythrocyte cast, leukocyte cast

Answer 1

a] Red blood cells in urine indicate any abnormality in genitourinary tract like acute infection [cystitis, urethritis or prostatitis], renal calculi , neoplasms and any bleeding disorders . Medications like warfarin ,heparin also cause hematuria. Traces of RBC in urine are normal.

White blood cells in urine indicates urinary tract infection, renal calculi,pyelonephritis,and cystitis. Sometimes WBC is present in urine of pregnant women and persons doing vigorous exercises.

Squamous epithelial cells if found more than normal in urine indicates any kidney diseases, urinary tract infection. Traces are normal.

b] Struvite in urine indicates urinary tract infection with urease positive bacteria by raising pH of urine and increase free ammonia and in patients with struvite stones in kidney. Struvite is most uncommon in human, usually found in cats and dogs.

Calcium carbonate is present in alkaline urine.

Calcium oxalate in urine indicates kidney stones, and ethylene glycol poisoning.

c] Hyaline casts in urine are seen in dehydration, glomerulonephritis, congestive heart failure, chronic diseases of kidney and after strenuous exercises.

Erythrocyte casts indicates glomerulonephritis, nephritis, rheumatoid arthritis and rarely in bacterial endocarditis.

Leukocyte casts in urine indicates infection in kidney.