CONSTITUENTS OF ABNORMAL OR PATHOLOGICAL URINE.
The abnonnal or pathological constituents found in th~ urine are:
1. Proteins, . .
2. Glucose,
3. Ketone bodies,
4. -Blood, .
5. Bile salts,
6, Bile pigments, and 7. Fats.
I
J~ PROTEINS: \
. A .nun'lber of proteins may appear in the urine in a variety 'of pathological
conditions. This may occur either d~e to: . .
a - Increa.se in the penneability of the glomerular capillaries, as
. in'n~phrotic syndrome, or I .,
b - Damage to the capillary membrane, a condition called .
glomeI:Ulonephritis. .
. The proteins detectedin the urine under pathological conditions are:
. a - Albumin, . .
b .: qlobulins,
c - Haemoglobin, . .
d - Myoglobin, and
. e - N{)n-blood proteins such .as Bence-Jones Proteins.
The tenn "Proteinuria" is better name given to the cpndition in which a heat
'~gulable'protein is found in the urine, it may be albumin or globulin. The commonly used
clinical tenn "Albuminuria" instead' of "Proteinuria" is. i~correct in view of the fact that
. alblimin and globulins both are present in abnonnal urine though albumin is generally in
excess. of globulins.. .. .
" /
1. HEAT COAGULATION TEST~
PROCEDURE:
Fill 2/3 of a test tube with urine. Heat the upper 1/3 to boil. Appearance
. of turbidity or a flocculent precipitate indicates the presence of either albumin or earthy./
phosphates. ... . . .'
. . Add 6 drops of 5% acetic acid to it. The phosphates, if present, will get dissolved .
and if the turbidity persists even after the addition of acetic acid, it indicates the presence of .proteins (albumin and globulins).
Note:
I!. I
a) Heat coagulation and addition of acetic acid" is a very sensitiv~ test and it can detect the presence of proteins at a concentration CjS low as 2-3mg/dL in urine. .
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f
b) Bence-Jones Proteins are abnormal proteins found jn.:the urine of patients suffering from multiple myeloma. These proteins do not give a positive heat coagulation test. . Ajldcculant precipitate appears, on heating a urine containing Bence-jones proteins, around 5(f-6(fC and it disappears at.lOO°C. It re-appears on cooling the urine.
