This article needs more reliable medical references for verification or relies too heavily on primary sources. (September 2017) |
Hemoglobinuria | |
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Other names | Haemoglobinuria |
Structure of hemoglobin | |
Specialty | Urology, nephrology |
Symptoms | Disease, Hemolytic anemia, Proteinuria |
Causes | Acute glomerulonephritis; Burns; Renal cancer; Malaria; Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria; Microangiopathies, e.g. hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) leading to microangiopathic hemolytic anemia; Transfusion reactions; IgM autoimmune hemolytic anemia; Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency; Pyelonephritis; Sickle cell anemia; Tuberculosis of the urinary tract; March hemoglobinuria secondary to repetitive impacts on the body, usually the feet; Athletic nephritis secondary to strenuous exercise; Acute lead poisoning |
Hemoglobinuria is a condition in which the oxygen transport protein hemoglobin is found in abnormally high concentrations in the urine.[1] The condition is caused by excessive intravascular hemolysis, in which large numbers of red blood cells (RBCs) are destroyed, thereby releasing free hemoglobin into the plasma.[2] Excess hemoglobin is filtered by the kidneys, which excrete it into the urine, giving urine a purple color. Hemoglobinuria can lead to acute tubular necrosis which is an uncommon cause of a death of uni-traumatic patients recovering in the ICU.