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Eosinophils in urine revisited
K A Ruffing1, P Hoppes, D Blend
1Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville, N.C.
Clinical Nephrology
|March 1, 1994
Summary
Urinary eosinophils are not a reliable indicator for diagnosing acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). This study found the test has high false positive and negative rates, making it inaccurate for AIN confirmation.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Urology
- Diagnostic Accuracy
Background:
- Eosinophils in urine have been proposed as a diagnostic marker for acute interstitial nephritis (AIN).
- The diagnostic accuracy of detecting urinary eosinophils for AIN has not been well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the diagnostic accuracy of eosinophiluria for acute interstitial nephritis (AIN).
- This study aimed to define the specificity, sensitivity, and predictive values of urinary eosinophils in diagnosing AIN.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 148 patients with pyuria for urinary eosinophils.
- Assessed diagnostic performance in a general hospital population and a select group with suspected AIN.
Main Results:
- In patients with pyuria, 4% showed eosinophilia; none had AIN, yielding 96% specificity.
- In suspected AIN cases, sensitivity was 40% and specificity 72%, with a 38% positive predictive value.
Conclusions:
- Eosinophiluria is not an accurate diagnostic test for acute interstitial nephritis (AIN).
- High false positive and negative rates limit the clinical utility of eosinophiluria in confirming AIN diagnoses.