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

Exercise 46

Urinalysis on a patient with severe back pain being evaluated for renal calculi would be most beneficial if it showed:

A. Heavy proteinuria

B. Low specific gravity

C. Uric acid crystals

D. Microscopic hematuria

Step 1 of 2

Renal calculi:

Renal calculi or kidney stones formed in ureters, bladder, calyces, and pelvis of kidney.

• The pH, urinary stasis, and chemical concentrations favors renal calculi formation.

• 75% of renal calculi are formed of calcium phosphate or calcium oxalate.

• Freshly voided urine having clumps of crystals indicates calculi formation.

• Microscopic hematuria is produced by irritation to the tissues by calculus movement.

• Finding microscopic hematuria in urinalysis is beneficial in renal calculi detection.

Microscopic hematuria:

• Presence of very small volume of blood in urine.

Therefore, finding of “microscopic hematuria” in urine is beneficial for evaluating renal calculi when the patient with severe back pain is analyzed in urinalysis process.

Hence, the correct answer is option.