Clinical Significance of Urine Dipstick Positive for Albuminuria in Urolithiasis

Kim, Tae Kwon; Song, Dae Kyu

Abstract

Urolithiasis is suspected by flank pain, costovertebral angle tenderness, and hematuria, and confirmed by computed tomography (CT). Treatment strategy and likelihood of spontaneous passage of a stone were determined by size and position of ureteral calculi and complication detected by CT. In general, the purpose of urinalysis for urolithiasis is to confirm the hematuria and pyuria. However, sometimes albumin is detected by urine dipstick test in urolithiasis. Therefore, I performed this study to investigate the clinical significance of urine dipstick positive for albuminuria in urolithiasis. This study was a retrospective review of medical records of 150 patients who visited the emergency department and diagnosed with urolithiasis by CT between March 2010 and February 2014. The patients were divided into a albuminuria group and non-albuminuria group. General chracteristics, clinical features, laboratory results, and CT findings were compared. The incidence of stones >5 mm in diameter, hydronephrosis (â‰¥grade 2) and upper ureter stone were significantly higher in albuminuria group than non-albuminuria group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, hydronephrosis (â‰¥grade 2) and upper ureter stone were significantly associated with albuminuria. Upper ureter stone and hydronephrosis (â‰¥grade 2) are also known as predictors for failure of spontaneous passage of ureter calculi. If further studies are done, urine dipstick positive for albumin in urolithiasis can be used as a predictor for failure of spontaneous passage of ureter calculi.