40 years
Is a microscopic hematuria of RBC: 1-3/HDF to be worried about? in the absence of any symptoms and clean blood test.
Aug 9, 2014
Don't worry. 1-3 RBC per high power field (HPF) is not considered microscopic hematuria , which is defined as the presence of more than 3 red blood cells (> 3 RBC) per HPF in the centrifuged urinary sediment. It becomes of clinical significance ,or persistent, when the result is seen in two of three properly collected urine samples (taken over a 10-day or longer time period). Of note, microscopic hematuria detected with a urine dipstick test can be misleading because the dipstick test cannot differentiate between RBC and hemoglobin (the red ppigment in RBC; when an RBC bursts due to being placed in a medium that is less concentrated than its own content like urine - osmosis- the hemoglobin exits the cell).
Hematuria is the most common sign of bladder cancer, yet the incidence of bladder cancer in patients with microscopic hematuria is low.
Risk Factors for Significant Urologic Disease:
Overuse of analgesic drugs
Age >40 years; risk increases with age and is twice as high in men
Exposure to certain drugs (phenacetin, cyclophosphamide, HIV therapies)
Exposure to pelvic radiation
History of gross hematuria
History of urinary tract infection (UTI) or irritative voiding symptoms
Occupational exposure to chemicals or dyes (e.g. benzenes or aromatic amines)
Smoking, past or present including exposure to second hand smoke
Previous urologic disease (e.g. renal calculi, urologic tumors).
Hematuria is the most common sign of bladder cancer, yet the incidence of bladder cancer in patients with microscopic hematuria is low.
Risk Factors for Significant Urologic Disease:
Overuse of analgesic drugs
Age >40 years; risk increases with age and is twice as high in men
Exposure to certain drugs (phenacetin, cyclophosphamide, HIV therapies)
Exposure to pelvic radiation
History of gross hematuria
History of urinary tract infection (UTI) or irritative voiding symptoms
Occupational exposure to chemicals or dyes (e.g. benzenes or aromatic amines)
Smoking, past or present including exposure to second hand smoke
Previous urologic disease (e.g. renal calculi, urologic tumors).
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the presece of 1 to3 rbc per hpf is considered normal do not worry
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