Hemoglobin is one of the components of red blood cells in red blood cells. It contains iron, which helps to attach oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules and deliver them with blood flow to tissues and organs. Hemoglobin is inside the cell and has a sufficiently large molecular weight. It is very difficult for him to get through the kidney filters, so normally he should not be in urine.
If hemoglobin is found in the urine during the examination, what does this mean, the attending physician will tell. And, as a rule, this indicates the development of some pathologies. To identify them, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis.
Hemoglobin in urine: what does it mean?
The presence of hemoglobin in the urine may indicate the development in the body of a disease such as hemoglobinuria. In another way, the disease is called hemolytic anemia. A sign of this ailment is the penetration of hemoglobin into the urine. In this case, there is an immediate breakdown of all blood cells. In the body at this time any infectious diseases may develop, for example, the same flu. In addition, the disease can manifest itself after severe hypothermia, various injuries, physical exertion.
There is a toxic type of hemoglobinuria and acquired. The acquired type is called paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (Stryubing-Markiafava disease). Having discovered traces of hemoglobin in the urine, what this means should be decided only by a specialist. Perhaps he will establish the acquired hemoglobinuria in the patient.
Another type (toxic) is characterized by massive hemolysis. All signs of toxic poisoning are detected by pesticides, toxic products, toxic insects. Hemoglobin can also occur during marching illness, when severe pressure is felt on the feet. The rarest type of hemoglobinuria is cold.
Causes of hemoglobin in the urine
When treating various blood diseases, when checking patient tests, doctors often find hemoglobin in the urine. What does this mean for an adult? Poisoning by poison, dyes, acids is possible. Hemoglobin can also occur after burns - in this period, one part of it is bound, and the rest is formed due to the destruction of red bodies.
The reason for the manifestation of hemoglobin in the blood can also be an intense occupation with jogging, fast walking. To maintain health, you need to stop training for a while. The intensity of classes will depend on the capabilities of the body. It is optimal to distribute the load for two hours a week (preferably in the morning and evening), abandon bad habits. Be sure to adhere to the correct diet, eat only fresh foods, do not forget about vitamins. Subcooling is also unacceptable, it can provoke manifestations of hemoglobin in urine.
The main indicator of the presence of hemoglobinuria is staining of urine in a dark brown color. But do not be alarmed by the dark color if the day before you ate beets.
Symptoms
Normally, hemoglobin in the urine should not be contained. This manifestation usually indicates some kind of inflammatory processes in the body, the breakdown of muscle tissue and other dangerous ailments that develop in the body. The following symptoms accompany hemoglobinuria:
- severe headaches that develop into a migraine;
- lumbar pain
- vomiting, nausea;
- weakening of the body;
- aches in all joints;
- feverish conditions;
- fever.
If you find such symptoms, you must contact the clinic and take tests. If hemoglobin is detected in the urine, you should be wary, because this is an indicator of some disorders and pathologies in the body.
Types of disease
In medicine, there are several varieties of the described pathology:
- Paroxysmal night form. An acquired condition in which the rapid decay of damaged blood cells occurs.
- Toxic form. Mass hemolysis. Hemoglobin in the urine appears due to severe toxic poisoning by any poisons, substances.
- Marching form. The disease often manifests itself in athletes with a strong load on the feet. Otherwise, this form is called the pathology of the soldiers.
- Paroxysmal cold form. There are quite rare cases. The manifestations of autoimmune hemolysis are characteristic.
Diagnostics
If hemoglobin is detected in the urine, what does this mean? Which doctor should deal with this pathology? A urologist or nephrologist will conduct a full examination and establish a diagnosis. If such a need arises, the patient can be referred for additional examination to narrow specialists: a gynecologist, endocrinologist, hematologist.
The standard diagnostics for this condition include the following steps:
- Patient survey and full examination. It is necessary to clarify the full history of life, the pathological condition (how long has it manifested itself, what are the symptoms).
- General blood analysis.
- Biochemical blood test.
- General urine analysis.
- Detection of infectious objects in the urine.
- Sample Reberg.
- Urine according to Nechiporenko.
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, abdominal cavity, excretory system.
If these data are not sufficient for a diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe an MRI or CT scan.
Hemoglobin in urine - what does this mean in a child?
Each mother takes care of the health of her baby and, in case of any deviations, should rush to the pediatrician for help. If you notice that the color of the urine in the child has become abnormal, brownish-dark, it is urgent to take tests and identify the causes of the pathology. If hemoglobin is detected in the urine, what does this mean, consult your pediatrician.
After the first analysis, it is necessary to do a second study a little later. If hemoglobin is detected in the urine, the child will be sent for an additional examination - an ultrasound of the genitourinary system, a blood test. If the doctor establishes hemoglobinuria in the child, identifies the causes of its manifestation, then the necessary treatment will be prescribed.
Causes of hemoglobinuria
So, hemoglobin in urine is positive - what does it mean? In addition to the main causes of hemoglobinuria, in a child it can occur in certain cases:
- Phimosis in boys.
- An infection in which a fever occurs.
- Inflammation of the genitourinary system.
- Glomerulonephritis.
- Renal failure.
- Tuberculosis.
- Gastrointestinal diseases.
- Inappropriate blood transfusion.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Therapeutic measures
When hemoglobin in the urine is detected in the analyzes, what does this mean, we disassembled. And now about what measures need to be taken and how it is treated. It is necessary to strictly comply with all the doctor's recommendations. If hemoglobinuria indicates the presence of a disease, it must be treated. The main recommendations will be as follows:
- Throughout the entire period of treatment, you need to use as little fluid as possible to relieve the genitourinary system.
- Protect yourself from overcooling as much as possible, and in winter it is better not to even leave your house.
The treatment of hemoglobinuria is not something complicated, it is enough to follow the doctor’s simplest recommendations and use prescribed pharmaceuticals. The following groups of drugs may be prescribed:
- preparations containing iron;
- anabolics;
- antioxidants;
- vitamin complexes;
- diuretic drugs.
The main method of treatment for night hemoglobinuria is transfusion (transfusion) of thawed red blood cells. This method differs from a transfusion of fresh blood and gives a more stable positive result. At least five such transfusions should be performed. It depends on the condition of the patient, the severity of the disease.
As a temporary symptomatic remedy for this form of the disease, the anabolic drug Nerobol is used. And as an additional therapy - iron-containing drugs, hepatoprotectors, anticoagulants.