[Asymptomatic isolated microhaematuria--a reason for concern?]

Nephrologists and urologists are frequently faced with patients with asymptomatic isolated microhaematuria (AIMH). This entity is defined as the presence of more than 5 red cells/uL in the sediment of first morning urine, in the absence of symptoms by the urinary tract and in the absence of proteinuria. From 201 children who were referred on the clinical examinations on the Pediatric Clinic in Sarajevo under the diagnosis haematuria in period from 01/01/1997 until 31/08/2002, 87 had AIMH. Age of life was from 0 to 16 years (mean 8 years). Fourteen children (16.1%) had a hypercalciuria, 10 (11.5%) had a state after purpura Henoch-Schonlein nad scarlatine, while 6 (6.9%) had glomerulopathy. Five children (5.7%) had anomalies of urinary system, 5 (5.7%) had evidence of nephrolithiasis, while 4 (4.6%) had asymptomatic urinary tract infection. Cause out of urinary system was found in 29 children (33.3%) and for 14 children (16.1%) etiology remained unknown. Transient microhaematuria was noted in 43 children (49.4%), recurrent in 37 (42.5%) and persistent in 7 (8.1%). Renal biopsy was performed in 5 children (5.7%) because of indications of glomerular disease and all of them had glomerular lesions. Sixty nine children of these 87 were followed up from 2 to 11 years (mean period of 3 years) and none of them developed hypertension or renal impairment. Most patients who have AIMH do not have clinically significant glomerular pathology and they don't need renal biopsy, but only periodic follow up. Any degree of proteinuria accompanying haematuria should be fully investigated, as proteinuria is often a sign of serious renal disease.