User:Copene/sandbox

Hematuria is the presence of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the urine. Gross hematuria is easily identified, as it causes red discoloration of the urine. Microscopic hematuria is invisible to the naked eye and is often found incidentally on urinalysis or urine dipstick. Any part of the kidneys or urinary tract (ureters, urinary bladder, prostate, and urethra) can cause blood in the urine. Hematuria can be benign and temporary, but it can also signal trauma of the urinary system or a tumor in the bladder. Occasionally "hemoglobinuria" is used synonymously, although it refers more precisely to hemoglobin in the urine.

Red discoloration of the urine can have various causes: Other pigments
 * Red blood cells
 * Microscopic hematuria (small amounts of blood) is seen only on urinalysis or light microscopy
 * Macroscopic hematuria or "frank" or "gross" hematuria
 * Hemoglobin (only the red pigment, not the red blood cells)
 * Myoglobin in myoglobinuria
 * Porphyrins in porphyria
 * Betanin, after eating beets
 * Drugs such as rifampicin, phenazopyridine, and sulphonamides
 * Alkaptonuria