Urine crystals

Urine crystallization is one of the contents of urine sediment examination. Crystals appear in the urine called crystaluria. In addition to crystals such as calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, magnesium ammonium phosphate (triphosphate), uric acid and urate, it also includes crystals precipitated from sulfonamides and other drugs. Whether crystals are precipitated in the urine depends on factors such as solubility in the urine, pH, temperature and colloidal conditions, and factors that promote and inhibit the precipitation of crystallization and maintain a stable dynamic balance of urine overdose and state. When there is an imbalance, crystal precipitation is observed. Crystallization in urine can include both metabolic and pathological. Metabolicity comes from diet, and generally does not make much sense. A large number of persistent appearances may be associated with stones. Pathological crystallization is associated with disease. Basic Information Specialist classification: urinary examination classification: urine / kidney function test Applicable gender: whether men and women apply fasting: not fasting Tips: It is forbidden to exercise vigorously. The drugs such as licorice, stomach ketone, amphetamine, amphotericin B and barbital should be stopped one week before the examination. Drink alcohol for 3 days before the test. Normal value Acidic urine can be seen as amorphous urate, uric acid, and calcium oxalate. Alkaline urine can be seen as amorphous phosphate, calcium carbonate, uric acid amine, magnesium ammonium phosphate. Clinical significance First, the common crystallization in the urine 1. Phosphate crystals include amorphous phosphate, ammonium magnesium phosphate, calcium phosphate, and the like. If a large amount of calcium phosphate crystals are seen in the urine for a long time, it should be combined with clinical data to consider whether there is hyperparathyroidism, renal tubular acidosis, or long-term bed bone decalcification; if the patient is in the urine Long-term appearance of phosphate crystals, should pay attention to the possibility of stones. Crystallization of ammonium magnesium phosphate often occurs in the urine, often indicating stones caused by infection. 2. Calcium oxalate crystals (calcium oxalate crystals) are mostly colorless squares of glittering octahedrons. There are two diagonal lines crossing each other, sometimes rhomboid, which is one of the main components of urinary calculi. If the oxalate discharge increases, the patient's clinical manifestations of urinary tract irritation (dysuria, frequent urination, urgency) or renal colic with hematuria, should pay attention to the possibility of urinary calculi, occasionally visible in the urine of the patient Crystal group. 3. Uric acid crystals (uricacidcryatals) Under normal circumstances, such as eating more sorghum-containing animal viscera can increase urinary uric acid, but in acute gout, acute fever in children, chronic interstitial nephritis, leukemia, due to massive decomposition of the nucleus, A large amount of urate can also be discharged. High urate urine is also seen when the renal tubules are dysfunctional for reabsorption of uric acid. 4. Ammoniumurate crystals Normally, especially in children (neonatal, infant), such crystals are easily seen in the urine. If the urine is left for too long, it is meaningless to see this crystal, but in the fresh urine, bacterial infections that may be present in the bladder should be considered. Second, other pathological crystals 1. Crystine crystals (crystine crystals) are colorless, hexagonal, sharp-edged, and highly refractive flaky crystals, which can occur in urine in rheumatism, severe liver disease, and calculus. 2. Both leucine and tyrosine crystals (lwucine andtyrosine crystals) are not found in normal urine, and can be seen in diseases with a large amount of tissue necrosis such as acute liver necrosis such as severe hepatitis, acute phosphorus, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride poisoning. The patient's urine; may also appear in the urine of patients with diabetic coma, leukemia, cirrhosis or typhoid. 3. Cholesterol crystals (cholesterol crystals) rarely appear in the urine sediment crystals, if any, the surface of the urine is flaky, the crystal form of cholesterol is a rectangular or square shape, colorless and transparent, soluble in chloroform, Ether. Cholesterol crystals can often be seen in chyluria, and occasionally in pyuria. Third, drug crystallization 1. Radiation contrast agent The use of radiation contrast agents (such as iodine contrast agents, urinary tract contrast agents, etc.) patients with venous injury can find bundles, globular, polymorphic crystals in the urine, while the urine specific gravity can be significantly increased. 2. Sulfonamides Crystallization Some sulfonamides have a high acetylation rate in the body, and crystals which are prone to precipitate in acidic urine cause hematuria, kidney damage and even urinary closure. For example, if a large amount of sulfonamide crystals are found in fresh urine and coexist with red blood cells or casts, it means that the kidneys have been damaged by sulfa drugs, and should be stopped immediately, while drinking plenty of water, and taking alkaline drugs to alkalize the urine to protect them. The kidney is not further damaged. When applying sulfa drugs, it is necessary to use a preparation that is not easily acetylated, and at the same time, take an alkaline drug, and regularly check whether the urine precipitates crystallize to prevent kidney damage. 3. Antipyretic analgesic antipyretics such as aspirin and sulfosalicylic acid may also exhibit birefringent rhomboid or radioactive crystals in the urine, which should be noted. In addition, due to the increasing number of new drugs, some may appear crystallized in the urine, but have not been recognized. Therefore, the occurrence of abnormal crystallization in the urine should be studied to identify its nature and source. Positive results may be diseases: kidney stones precautions Before the test: prohibit strenuous exercise, maintain a good diet and work schedule, stop the licorice, raw stomach ketone, amphetamine, amphotericin B, barbital and other drugs one week before the test. Drink alcohol for 3 days before the test. Inspection process The urine of the subject was collected and examined by microscopy. Not suitable for the crowd There are no special taboos. Adverse reactions and risks There are no related complications and hazards.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.

Was this article helpful? Thanks for the feedback. Thanks for the feedback.