Differentiation of glomerular and non-glomerular haematurias on basis of the morphology of urinary red blood cells.

Haematurias present serious problems in differential diagnostics. Although no clear-cut instructions exist, patients with haematuria are usually directed to urological surgeries or inpatient departments. Here they are routinely checked by a number of invasive techniques (cystoscopy, i. v. urography, aortography etc.) before the urological nature of haematuria can be ruled out. The suspicion of a glomerular disease being in the background of haematuria emerges only if it is accompanied by a marked proteinuria. Our department deals with kidney diseases since decades. The routine light microscopic examination of haematuric urinary samples called attention to the fine differences between erythrocyte morphology in glomerular and other haematurias. The present paper is an account of morphological studies of red blood cells carried out in haematuric urinary samples of 120 histologically verified glomerulonephritis and 80 other cases.