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Interventional Nephrology Series
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Urine Sediment of the Month Series
Urine Sediment of the Month: Mixed Cellular Casts
As we have covered before, RBC casts most often signify the presence of glomerulonephritis while WBC casts are indicative of an inflammatory process affecting the glomeruli or interstitium. Sometimes, casts can be seen which contain both red and…
Urine Sediment of the Month: When you Hear Hoofbeats… Unusual Cell Types in Urine
If you’re regular reader of Urine Sediment posts, you know all about red cells, white cells, and epithelial cells by now – but what about the zebras of the urine sediment? In 2019 we talked about the so-called…
Urine Sediment of the Month: Evidence of Nephritic & Nephrotic Syndrome in a Single Snapshot
Microscopic examination of the urinary sediment is essential in the evaluation of glomerular disease. The value of identification of urinary acanthocytes in the diagnosis of glomerular hematuria has been previously reviewed. Similarly, recognition of lipiduria consistent with glomerular…
Urine Sediment of the Month: Isolated Lipiduria
What is “isolated lipiduria”? The detection of urinary lipid droplets with a typical Maltese cross appearance in the absence of proteinuria or albuminuria. There are no reports or systematic analyses of this phenomenon, so this post reflects anecdotal…
Urine Sediment of the Month: Transmitted Light Microscopy Techniques
Although it remains a polarizing topic, looking at urine has come a long way since the dark ages before wide availability of renal biopsy. Not just a passing phase, modern urine microscopy allows the bright nephrologist to readily…
Urine Sediment of the Month: Bacterial Variant Forms
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common medical disorders in the world. Bacteria are the main infectious agent that causes UTIs, and bacteriuria and leukocyturia are the hallmarks of urinary sediment in patients with UTI. Bacteria…
Urine Sediment of the Month: Findings in Cirrhosis, Cholestasis, and Hyperbilirubinuria
Microscopic examination of the urinary sediment in the context of hyperbilirubinemia and increased urinary bilirubin excretion requires special attention to the unique chromatic characteristics acquired by the specimens. As serum bilirubin increases, a yellow-tinged urine becomes increasingly noticeable….
Urine Sediment of the Month: 4 Flavors of Nucleated Cells
In the routine urinary sediment examination, you may come across 4 types of nucleated cells: 1. Squamous epithelial cells2. Leukocytes3. Transitional epithelial cells4. Tubular epithelial cells Let’s discuss how to differentiate between them. Squamous epithelial cells are easily…
Urine Sediment of the Month: All About Those Oval Fat Bodies
Damage to the glomerular basement membrane allows plasma lipids to enter the urinary space. These lipids may appear in various forms, either as free lipid droplets, lipid casts, oval fat bodies, and/or as cholesterol crystals. In most cases,…
Urine Sediment of the Month: Drugs & Crystalluria
Several drugs, mainly antimicrobial or antiviral agents, can cause transient crystalluria, in isolation or in conjunction with other urinary abnormalities and a wide range of clinical implications. The factors favoring the formation of drug crystals are drug overdose,…