CRYSTALS
Description
- Few crystals are normally seen
Clinical significance
- Urine contains many dissolved substances (solutes) /waste chemicals that the body needs to eliminate. These solutes can form crystals, solid forms of a particular substance, in the urine. If the urine pH is increasingly acidic or basic, the concentration of dissolved substances is increased; and the urine temperature promotes their formation.
- Crystals are identified by their shape, colour, and by the urine pH. They may be small, sand-like particles with no specific shape (amorphous) or have specific shapes, such as needle-like. Crystals are considered "normal" if they are from solutes that are typically found in the urine; it includes Amorphous urates, Crystalline uric acid, Calcium oxalates and Amorphous phosphates
- If the crystals are from substances that are not normally in the urine, they are considered "abnormal." Abnormal crystals may indicate an abnormal metabolic process. Some of these include Calcium carbonate, Cystine, Tyrosine, Leucine
- Normal or abnormal crystals can form within the kidneys as urine is being made and may group to form kidney stones or calculi
- Medications, drugs, and x-ray dye can also crystallize in urine
- calcium oxalate crystals (envelope-shaped) and acute kidney injury is seen with ethylene glycol ingestion
- The presence of large amounts of uric acid crystals (diamond or barrel-shaped) and acute kidney injury is seen in tumour lysis syndrome
- Uric acid crystals may also be seen with other causes of hyperuricosuria, such as gout
- Also, cystine crystals (hexagonal)are seen with cystinuria
- Magnesium ammonium phosphate and triple phosphate crystals are coffin-lid shaped and seen with UTIs caused by urea-splitting organisms
When to get tested
- As part of a routine urine analysis
- Typically done when there are abnormal findings on the physical or chemical examination
Elevated level
- Calculi
- Ethylene glycol ingestion
- Tumour lysis syndrome
- Cystinuria
- Gout
- UTI
Decreased level
Profile
Urine Analysis
Turn your phone into a full-featured Ayurveda clinic
Reference library, prescription studio, classical texts and everyday productivity tools — all in one app. Try Bhishak with a trial subscription; unlock the full experience once you’re in.
