Definition

Hematuria is blood in the urine. Normally, urine does not contain any blood.

There are 2 kinds of hematuria:

• Microscopic hematuria—Urine contains a small amount of blood, which is not visible to the naked eye
• Gross hematuria—Urine is visibly discolored by blood, appearing red or tea-colored

Causes

In some cases, the cause of hematuria is never found. The list of known causes is lengthy. Some more common causes include:

• Injury to the abdomen, pelvis, or internal organs of the urinary tract
• Vigorous exercise—resolves with rest
• Urinary tract infection or kidney infection
• Cancer of the prostate, kidney, or bladder
• Kidney disease
• Kidney stones
• Bleeding disorders such as hemophilia
• Certain congenital diseases such as polycystic kidneys
• Radiation of the pelvis for cancer treatment
• Certain medications

Risk Factors

Factors that may increase your risk of hematuria include:

• Smoking
• Medications such as certain antibiotics and pain medications
• Family history of kidney problems

Symptoms

In some cases, there may not be additional symptoms.

But, if you have an underlying condition, you may have other symptoms. For example, kidney stones can cause blood in the urine, along with pain in the side, abdomen, or groin.

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. You may be referred to a nephrologist who specializes in kidney disease or a urologist who specializes in the urinary system.

Your doctor may need to test your bodily fluids. This can be done with:

• Urine tests
• Blood tests

Your doctor may need to view your bodily structures. This can be done with:

• Ultrasound
• CT scan
• X-ray
• Intravenous pyelogram
• MRI scan
• Cystoscopy

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the cause of hematuria. Some causes of hematuria require no treatment or will resolve on their own. Other causes will respond to medication. For example, treating a urinary tract infection with antibiotics will stop the hematuria. Still, other causes may require surgery, such as the removal of a tumor or treatment for prostate cancer.

Prevention

Treating the underlying condition that causes hematuria may help prevent it from occurring.

National Kidney Foundation http://www.kidney.org

The Kidney Foundation of Canada http://www.kidney.ca

Hematuria in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebsochost.com/dynamed
Updated August 10, 2015. Accessed August 31, 2015.

Hematuria in children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebsochost.com/dynamed
Updated July 22, 2013. Accessed August 31, 2015.

Microscopic hematuria. Am Fam Physician. 1999 Sep 15;60(4):1154. Available at:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/990915ap/990915b.html
Accessed August 31, 2015.

Urination problems. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at:
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/health-tools/search-by-symptom/urination-problems.html
Accessed August 31, 2015.