Abnormal colours of urine is a frequent question in AIPGE and many state
level PG entrance examinations. Since many students struggle to find a list of
these abnormalities at one place, rxpg team has compiled a colour coded handy
list of abnormal urine colours to provide a handy reference for PG aspirants.
Red Coloured Urine - Causes
- Hematuria- microscopic examination of urine will demonstrate the present
of RBCs.
- Myoglobinuria- there will be a brownish-red colour. Often associated with
ischemic muscle damage, crush injuries, and after vigorous exercise.
- Hemoglobinuria- with intravascular HEMOLYSIS
- "Pink diaper syndrome"- there is a pinkish discoloration on the
diaper secondary to urate crystals in the urine. This is a benign condition.
- Foods:
1. Berries
2. Beets
3. Food colouring
- Drugs:
1. Dilantin
2. Phenothiazines
3. Adriamycin
- Use of Deferoxamine will cause vin rose colored urine if serum Fe is
elevated.
- Presence of Serratia marcescens in the urine. This is a non-pathogen
Red Hue in Urine - Causes
- The red hue may be due to the presence of blood in the urine; this
condition, known as hematuria, can be caused by one of several diseases or
disorders, including lesions of the urinary tract, contamination during
menstruation, disease of the prostate, trauma, tumours, malaria or stones in
the urinary tract.
Orange Coloured Urine - Causes
- Pyridium
- Rifampin
- Urate crystals
Pink Coloured Urine - Causes
- Eating beetroot can produce urine thats pink to deep-red in colour (a
condition known as beeturia).
- Urate crystals in the urine.
Vin Rose
Coloured Urine - Causes
- Use of Deferoxamine will cause vin rose colored urine if serum Fe is
elevated.
Green
Coloured Urine - Causes
- Food colourings
- Increased carotene in the diet ?
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection
- Oxalate Poisoning
- Oxaluria
- Phenol poisoning can lead to green or black urine
due to carboluria. Carboluria is due to oxidation of phenol to hydroquinone
and pyrocatechol.
Brown or
Black Coloured Urine - Causes
- Hemoglobin
- Bilirubin
- Flagyl
- Nitrofurans
- Alkaptonuria- on standing, the urine will turn a dark colour.
Black
Coloured Urine - Causes
- Indicate the presence of a pigmented cancerous tumour
- Carbolic acid poisoning.
- Phenol poisoninig can lead to green or black urine
due to carboluria. Carboluria is due to oxidation of phenol to hydroquinone
and pyrocatechol.
Yellow Coloured Urine - Causes
- Bile pigments
- Blue
- Methylene blue
- A tryptophan absorption defect may lead to production of indigotin, an
oxidative product
Milky or Cloudy Coloured Urine -
Causes
- Pus cells and bacteria in the urine
- After sitting, urine may form crystals that makes urine appear cloudy
Bile
Coloured Urine - Causes
- Typically seen in jaundice; it indicates an abnormal retention of bile.
Blue
Coloured Urine - Causes
- Presence of indigo or of methylene blue (used as an antidote to certain
types of poisoning).
Very Pale Urine - Causes
- Results from its being extremely dilute, may be a pointer to diabetes
insipidus.
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