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Crystalluria: prevalence, different types of crystals and the role of infrared spectroscopy
-
Simona Verdesca
,
Giuseppe Garigali
Published/Copyright:
December 14, 2010
Abstract
Background: Studies on the frequency of the different types of urinary crystals and the role of Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIRM) for identification are few. We describe the results of a retrospective study on the prevalence and typology of crystalluria and on the role of FTIRM.
Methods: Urinary crystals were identified using the combined knowledge of crystal morphology, birefringence features and urine pH (combined approach). When this was inconclusive, FTIRM was performed.
Results: Crystalluria was found in 807 out of 9834 samples (8.2%). In 793, the combined approach identified “typical” crystals, while in 14 FTIRM was needed to identify “atypical” crystals. Among “typical crystals”, calcium oxalate (75.9%), uric acid (25.9%) and amorphous urates (7.9%), alone or in combination, were the most frequent. Brushite, ammonium biurate and cystine were the most rare (0.1%–0.7%). FTIRM identified 12 of 14 atypical crystals: three crystals were due to a drug (amoxicillin, indinavir, doubtful phenytoloxamine); four were due to calcium oxalate mono- or bihydrate, uric acid bihydrate or struvite; five were due to calcium carbonate, Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein, or rare salt combinations.
Conclusions: Crystalluria is not rare and most crystals can be identified by the combined approach. Occasionally, identification of crystals will require FTIRM.
Keywords: crystalluria; Fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy; urinalysis; urinary microscopy
Received: 2010-7-2
Accepted: 2010;-8-18
Published Online: 2010-12-14
Published in Print: 2011-03-01
©2011 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
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Keywords for this article
crystalluria;
Fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy;
urinalysis;
urinary microscopy
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