INVESTIGATIONS FOR KIDNEY DISEASES
These include biochemical, microbiologic, immunologic,
histopathologic and radiologic investigations.
A. BIOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS:
Include the examination of urine, tests for kidney functions,
microbiologic and immunologic tests.
I. URINE EXAMINATION:
Simple urinalysis and blood pressure measurement could be a
valuable method for screening for renal diseases. However, negative
urinalysis does not exclude renal disease. Urinalysis is an essential part of
physical examination for kidney disease. The urine should be fresh and
examined for the following :
- Physical characteristics: these include examination for colour, odour,
transparency, froth and foreign materials.
Normal colour of urine is amber yellow due to the pigment
urochrome, it could be diluted or concentrated according to the patient
hydration status and the diluting and concentrating capacity of the
kidney.
A red coloured urine is seen mainly with haematuria, hemoglobinuria
which could be differentiated by microscopic examination which can
demonstrate RBC's in cases of haematuria but not in cases of
haemoglobinuria.
A milky urine is seen in chyluria (lymph in urine). Turbid urine is
seen with pyuria or presence of salts (phosphate, urate or oxalates).
Cloudy and offensive urine could be seen with infection. Abnormal