|
Hematuria is defined as the presence of blood in the urine and occurs in all age groups. It has been estimated that 19% of the US population is evaluated for this condition annually. In the majority of individuals, blood is found incidentally during check ups or routine physicals and is not associated with any signs, symptoms or complaints involving the urinary tract. Blood which can not be seen with the naked eye is termed microscopic hematuria.
If the urine is abnormally colored pink, red or brown, this is usually cause for alarm and patients will seek immediate aid from their doctor. There is no “safe” amount of blood in the urine, so physicians must attempt to determine the cause of hematuria.
Persistent microscopic hematuria, defined as the presence of blood in the urine occurring in two out of three office examinations is usually followed by a referral to an Urologist, a physician who specializes in the assessment and treatment of disorders of the urinary tract.
There are many conditions, disorders and disease processes that present with hematuria. Cancer of the bladder and other parts of the urinary tract represents the most serious and potentially life threatening condition but it is not the most common cause of hematuria. A number of laboratory tests using blood and urine are used to determine the cause of hematuria. Following a complete clinical history and physical examination, the Urologist orders a specialized test known as Urine cytology. This test concentrates the cells and particulate matter in the urine specimen and with the use of special stains, allows analysis by microscopic methods. Laboratory professionals known as Cytotechnologists and Surgical Pathologists can often determine the possible origin and condition or disease causing the hematuria. If cancer cells are suspected or found in urine, the Urologist will confirm this by performing additional procedures including tissue biopsy. The patient can then be treated by various methods and urine cytology will then be used to monitor the effects of treatment and possible recurrence of cancer.
Cytodiagnostic Urinalysis: The Next Step
An advanced form of Urine Cytology, known as Cytodiagnostic Urinalysis, developed over 20 years ago, has proved to have significant advantages over urine cytology. Cytodiagnostic Urinalysis represents the combination of the strengths of routine urinalysis and a standardized, quantitative examination of the urine sediment. A first-morning voided urine sample is all that is needed to perform this advanced test. Using this approach, this test can evaluate the origins of hematuria with greater accuracy and reliability and can be used to monitor many disease processes not traditionally addressed by urine cytology.
Cytodiagnostic urinalysis was used to monitor kidney transplant patients for early signs of rejection. Success in this area opened the door for the study of other kidney diseases and systemic diseases affecting the kidney and urinary tract. Confirmed by many clinical studies, it has been determined that hematuria originating in the kidney accounts for over thirty percent of all cases in patients of all ages. Abnormal red blood cell morphology, the presence of blood or hemoglobin casts and elevated protein levels are the hallmarks of kidney disease. One study comparing the results of Cytodiagnostic Urinalysis to kidney biopsy proved that this urine test could predict what abnormalities would be found in the biopsy and correlated with the degree of severity of disease.
Cytodiagnostic Urinalysis is also valuable for assessing the systemic effects of common diseases including diabetes and hypertension. Another area of considerable utility is the prediction of urinary stone disease. Crystals and calcifications can be recognized using this technique. Hematuria is often the first and only indication that there is a disease state in an otherwise healthy individual.
Cytodiagnostic Urinalysis is a complete and sensitive test; it is non-invasive and inexpensive and benefits patients by the early detection of many diseases. Bostwick Laboratories®, a leading, urospecialty laboratory, offers this expert hematuria analysis to Urologists, Nephrologists, and other Practioners throughout the country.
|