Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 43

State two pathologic causes of a clear red urine.

a. State a method that could distinguish between the two causes that does not require laboratory testing.

Step 1 of 2

Pathologic causes of clear red urine:

Other than RBC (Red Blood Cells), myoglobin and hemoglobin are the two pathologic causes for clear red urine.

Hemoglobin:

Hemoglobin is a red pigment present in RBCs, which helps in transportation of oxygen.

Hemoglobinuria is the presence of hemoglobin (red pigment, transports oxygen in blood) in urine caused due to destruction of RBCs and increase of free hemoglobin in plasma, which is excreted through urine.

Myoglobin:

Myoglobin is the oxygen and iron binding protein in muscle tissue.

Myoglobinuria is the occurrence of myoglobin (oxygen transport pigment in muscle tissue) in urine due to destruction of muscle or rhabdomyolysis.