Blood in Urine (Haematuria)

What Is Blood in Urine (Haematuria)?

Blood can be found in your urine. Microscopic haematuria is when you cannot physically see blood in your urine but it is detected on laboratory test. Macroscopic or Gross haematuria is when you can see blood in your urine. It is not a normal finding and usually requires further investigation of the urinary tract.

Causes of Haematuria

The causes of includes but is not exhaustive of the following:

• Vigorous exercise (e.g. marathon) or Sexual lntercourse
• Blood clotting disorders
• Infection
• Renal Stones
• Cancer – Bladder, Ureter, Kidney, Prostate
• Medication
• Polycystic kidney disease

Investigations of Haematuria

Urinalysis:A small sample of urine will be collected to look for any signs of infection or stone.

Blood Tests: The doctor may want to check for any signs of infection. The blood test will also be able to tell if your kidneys are functioning normally.

Cystoscopy: During a cystoscopy, a very fine telescope is inserted through the urethra to examine the bladder. The doctor may take biopsies to be sent for further investigation.

Ultrasound Scan: A simple bedside scan may be done to look that the kidneys, ureter prostate and bladder.

Computed Tomography CT Scan: This is a detailed X-ray machine. Patients usually need to be fasted for 4 hours before scan. Occasionally a small amount of dye is injected into the body so we can better look at the urinary tract. Patients will be lying flat while the x-ray is being taken. It is usually completed within 5-10 minutes.

Treatment of Haematuria

This is dependent on the causes. Haematuria will resolve once the cause is treated.

Occasionally, no obvious cause can be found for microscopic haematuria. In these cases, outpatient monitoring is recommended or possible referral to a nephrologist is required to exclude rarer medical causes of haematuria.