[Value of phase-contrast microscopy in differential diagnosis of erythrocyturia].

In 41 patients with erythrocyturia the usefulness was assessed of phase-contrast microscopy of erythrocytes in urinary sediment. In all 28 patients with non-glomerular erythrocyturia (less than 20% of changed sediment erythrocytes) non-glomerular, mainly urological, causes of erythrocyturia were found. In 13 cases of glomerulonephritis confirmed by biopsy erythrocyturia was in 6 cases of glomerular character (greater than 60% of changed sediment erythrocytes), in the remaining 7 cases it was of mixed character (greater than 20-60% of changed sediment erythrocytes). In cases of glomerulonephritis a correlation was found between the per cent of changed sediment erythrocytes in this microscopy and the severity of glomerulopathy and the coexistence and intensity of interstitial-tubular changes in renal biopsy. The accepted mode of differential diagnosis of erythrocyturia includes presently renal biopsy in case of glomerular erythrocyturia and undertaking of urological diagnostic procedures in case of non-glomerular erythrocyturia. In case of mixed erythrocyturia the diagnostic procedure is as yet as in non-glomerular erythrocyturia. This will be eventually changed when our experience will increase.