Health Encyclopedia

Urinary casts

Definition

Urinary casts are tiny tube-shaped particles made up of white blood cells, red blood cells, or kidney cells. They form in kidney structures called tubules. Casts are held together by a protein released by the kidney. The content of a cast can tell your health care provider whether your urine is healthy or abnormal.

Types of urinary casts include:

Fatty casts
Granular casts
Hyaline casts
Red blood cell casts
Renal tubular epithelial casts
Waxy casts
White blood cell casts

Alternative Names

Hyaline casts; Granular casts; Renal tubular epithelial casts; Waxy casts; Casts in the urine; Fatty casts; Red blood cell casts; White blood cell casts

How the test is performed

A clean-catch (midstream) urine sample is needed, preferably the first morning urine sample. For information on how to collect this sample, see: Clean-catch urine culture

How to prepare for the test

No special preparation is needed.

How the test will feel

The test involves only normal urination, and there is no discomfort.

Why the test is performed

Your doctor may order this test to see if your kidneys are working properly and to check for certain conditions such as kidney infections, glomerular disease, and interstitial kidney disease.

Normal Values

There are different types of casts. The presence of a few hyaline casts is normal.

What abnormal results mean

Abnormal results may include:

Fatty casts are seen in people who have lipids in urine, usually as a complication of nephrotic syndrome.
Granular casts are a sign of underlying kidney disease. However, they are nonspecific and may be found in people with many different kidney disorders.
Hyaline casts are usually caused by dehydration, exercise, or diuretic medicines.
Red blood cell casts are a sign of bleeding into the kidney tubule. They are seen in many diseases affecting the glomerulus, including IgA nephropathy, lupus nephritis, Goodpasture syndrome, and Wegener's granulomatosis.
Renal tubular epithelial cell casts reflect damage to the tubules. They are seen in renal tubular necrosis, viral disease (such as CMV nephritis), and transplant rejection.
Waxy casts are associated with advanced kidney disease and chronic kidney failure.
White blood cell (WBC) casts are more common in interstitial cell kidney diseases such as interstitial inflammation, pyelonephritis, and parenchymal infection.

This test may also show:

Acute nephritic syndrome
Glomerulonephritis - chronic
Glomerulonephritis - post-streptococcal
Glomerulonephritis - rapidly progressive
Complicated urinary tract infection
Necrotizing vasculitis
Rhabdomyolysis
Primary amyloid
Secondary amyloid
Systemic lupus erythematosus

What the risks are

There are no risks.

Review Date:8/7/2009
Reviewed By:David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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