The clinical importance of microscopic hematuria and hydronephrosis in
urolithiasis
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between
the degree of hydronephrosis and the presence of microscopic hematuria
in patients that presented to the emergency department (ED) with
ureteral stones. Methods: The records of patients who presented to our
ED due to urolithiasis between January 2017 and December 2020 were
retrospectively analyzed. Patients aged 18 years or older who underwent
non-contrast computed tomography (CT abdomen/pelvis) and urinalysis (UA)
and were diagnosed with ureteral stones were included in the study.
Radiology reports were reviewed for stone size, localization, and degree
of hydronephrosis. Patients with and without microscopic hematuria and
the degree of hydronephrosis were compared. Results: A total of 476
patients were included, which consisted of 391 with microscopic
hematuria and 85 without microscopic hematuria. The median stone size
was 4.1 mm in the presence of microscopic hematuria and 5.5 mm in the
absence of microscopic hematuria. Logistic regression analysis was
performed to determine the factors associated with the development of
hydronephrosis. Stone size [odds ratio (OR):2.15, 95% confidence
interval (CI):1.12-4.16, p<0.001), presence of pyuria (OR:
2.58, 95%CI: 1.78-3.48, p<0.001), and absence of microscopic
hematuria (OR: 1.31, 95%CI 1.04-2.89, p=0.017) were identified as risk
factors for moderate and severe hydronephrosis. Conclusion: We consider
that non-contrast CT imaging is necessary for the diagnosis and
treatment of emergency cases in which microscopic hematuria is not
detected in urinalysis since their stone size may be larger and degree
of hydronephrosis may be more severe.