﻿ Blood in Urine: Learn Causes and Facts about Hematuria

Blood in Urine

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Blood in urine facts

  • Blood in urine can sometimes be visible only with a microscope.
  • Evaluating blood in urine requires consideration of the entire urinary tract.
  • Tests used for the diagnosis of blood in urine include a CT scan, cystoscopy, and urine cytology.
  • Management of blood in the urine depends upon the underlying cause.

What is blood in urine (hematuria)?

Hematuria, or blood in the urine, can be either gross (visible) or microscopic (blood cells only visible through a microscope). Gross hematuria can vary widely in appearance, from light pink to deep red with clots. Although the amount of blood in the urine may be different, the types of conditions that can cause the problem are the same, and require the same kind of workup or evaluation.

People with gross hematuria will visit their doctor with this as a primary complaint. People who have microscopic hematuria, on the other hand, will be unaware of a problem and their condition will most commonly be detected as part of a periodic checkup by a primary-care physician.

Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 12/11/2013

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