Hypercalciuria: Common but Under-diagnosed Cause of Hematuria

Abstract

Hypercalciuria has been found to be the cause of unexplained asymptomatic macroscopic or microscopic hematuria among children in a substantial number of cases. It is more common than post-strept glomerulonephritis / IgA nephropathy or any other structural abnormality. Children with asymptomatic hematuria should be investigated and correctly treated for hypercalciuric as it can be easily misdiagnosed. We report a case of hypercalciuria causing hematuria in a young teenager who was initially considered a case of glomerulonephritis. The patient had isolated gross hematuria, and was suspected of the case of glomerulonephritis and was being treated with immunosuppressants. The patient’s family considered a second opinion with us before the earlier advised renal biopsy. The patient was found to have elevated urinary calcium causing hematuria. He was treated with diuretics, immunosuppressants were stopped and along with dietary restrictions, the patient became asymptomatic.

Keywords

• hypercalciuria
• hematuria
• immunosuppressants
• red blood cells (rbcs)
• urinalysis
• glomerulonephritis (gn)
• deltacortil
• azathioprine