The importance of leukocyturia in young adults

The records of 1,000 asymptomatic male air force personnel were examined retrospectively for the results of 15 yearly examinations (1968 through 1983) of urinary sediment, beginning with subjects aged 18 to 33 years. The cumulative incidence of four to six or more WBCs per high-power field on one or more examinations was 31.8% after an average of 12.2 examinations per person over the 15-year period. In 107 subjects the WBCs were found on two or more occasions within five consecutive examinations. In 106 subjects, 140 urine cultures were sterile. In 28 cases the urine was also sterile after culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Intravenous pyelograms, obtained in eight cases, were normal. Renal biopsy in one case with recurrent hematuria and trace proteinuria showed focal glomerulonephritis. All subjects are currently active and free of urinary symptoms an average of 7.6 years after detection of leukocyturia.