We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GLOBE SCIENTIFIC, LLC

Download Mobile App




Value and Use of Urinalysis for Myoglobinuria

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 16 Dec 2019
Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome involving acute muscle injury caused by numerous conditions, such as trauma), intense exercise, inflammatory or hereditary myopathies, snake toxins, seizures, alcohol or drug overdose, hyperthermia, and severe hypokalemia.

Muscle damage leads to increased serum levels of creatine phosphokinase and myoglobin, which serve as primary indicators for laboratory diagnosis. More...
Measurements of peak levels and clearance rates of serum myoglobin have been reported to have value for predicting acute renal failure in patients with rhabdomyolysis. Its detection in urine may also serve as an aid in diagnosis and assessment of severe rhabdomyolysis, and secondarily as a biomarker for risk of renal injury.

Medical Laboratory Professionals at the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System (Tucson, AZ, USA) conducted a retrospective observational study involving all identifiable urine myoglobin results as well as blood and microscopic red blood cell results by urinalysis. Other than general myoglobin testing method (qualitative or quantitative) no other information was available. No patient demographics or clinical information was obtained. Urine myoglobin concentrations 1,000 μg/L or greater were considered clinically significant for potential renal toxicity. Hematuria was defined as five or more red blood cells/µL

The team reported that a total of 13,139 urine myoglobin results from 88 Veterans Affairs facilities during a 15-year period ending in October 2014 were evaluated. Among methods used by each laboratory, qualitative urine myoglobin tests declined from 25 of 53 (47.1%) in 2000 to 5 of 77 (6.4%) in 2013. Of 7,311 tests (55.6%) performed by quantitative methods with concomitant urinalysis, 3.915 (53.5%) showed negative to trace blood results, of which myoglobin was 1,000 μg/L or greater in 17 (0.4%). Among 1,875 (25.5%) with 3+ (large) blood results, urine myoglobin was ≥1,000 μg/L in 273 of 1,533 (17.8%) with hematuria (≥5 red blood cells per microliter) and 109 of 342 (31.9%) without hematuria.

The authors concluded that their study provided evidence-based support for the role of urinalysis in testing for myoglobinuria. Measurement of urine myoglobin is unnecessary in cases with absent or only small amounts of blood by urinalysis which reliably excludes the presence of clinically significant myoglobinuria. Conversely, the presence of increasing amounts of blood by urinalysis progressively raises the probability of myoglobinuria, especially in the absence of hematuria. When urine myoglobin cannot be promptly and accurately measured, its value is limited to that of a confirmatory test, with marginal clinical impact when used for diagnosis and management of rhabdomyolysis compared to that provided by urinalysis results. The study was published in the November, 2019 issue of the journal Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.

Related Links:
Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System


Gold Member
Antipsychotic TDM Assays
Saladax Antipsychotic Assays
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Varicella Zoster Test
ZEUS ELISA Varicella Zoster IgG Test System
New
Droplet Digital PCR System
QX600 AutoDG
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: Kissing bugs can carry the parasite that causes Chagas disease (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

First-Ever Test of Cure for Chagas Disease Determines Treatment Effectiveness

An estimated 6 to 8 million individuals across the globe are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite responsible for Chagas disease, which claims over 10,000 lives annually. This disease doesn’t... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The new tool shines a light on elusive genomic patterns (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Computational Tool Exposes Hidden Cancer DNA Changes Influencing Treatment Resistance

Structural changes in tumor DNA are among the most damaging genetic alterations in cancer, yet they often go undetected, particularly when tissue samples are degraded or of low quality. These hidden genomic... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.