Phase contrast microscopy and coulter counter for evaluating the source of hematuria after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)

Abstract

After ESWL, to localise the source of hemorrhage in 31 patients with hematuria, urine samples were examined by phase contrast microscopy. Ten of the 31 patients had isomorphic red cells of more than 80%; 5 patients had dys-morphic red cells of more than 80% and 16 patients had mixed hematuria. Urine samples taken from same patients (groupi) and 35 patients (group 2) with hematuria due to kidney stones were compared using a Coulter counter for urinary rçd cell mean corpuscular volume and red cell volume distribution curves (RCVDC). We found that red cells had larger volume measurements in most of patients, except 3 patients in group 1 and 2 patients in group 2 who had smaller volume measurements. RCVDC were glomerular type in 3 patients in group 1 and 2 patients in group 2, non-glomerular type in 10 patients in group 1 and 12 patients in group 2 and mixed type in 18 patients in group 1 and 21 patients in group 2. Although there was no significant difference between hematuria after ESWL and hematuria due to kidney stone, we cannot exclude a direct effect of shock waves on renal tissue.