Urinalysis: do not forget this type of cell in renal transplantation.
Microscopic sediment analysis of urine from a 56-year-old woman who underwent renal transplantation showed many uncommon clusters of rounded and translucent cells containing globular mucous cytoplasmic inclusions (HPF, x400). These cells were bigger than leukocytes and, compared with uroepithelial cells, showed a smaller nucleus to cytoplasm ratio and appeared eosinophilic, being pink rather than azurophilic with Sternheimer-Malbin stain. They were also unlikely to be tubular cells, which are usually smaller, singly distributed and associated with dysmorphic erythrocytes and/or casts and/or a worsening in renal function. A review of the patient's history showed that a pretransplantation urologic surgical treatment, including ileal bladder reconstruction, had been performed. Intestinal epithelial cells should be remembered when examining urinary sediment.
Gai
Massimo
M
Laboratory of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin - Italy. massimogai@katamail.com
Motta
Daria
D
Giunti
Sara
S
Maddalena
Emanuela
E
Messina
Maria
M
Lasaponara
Fedele
F
Lanfranco
Giacomo
G
Segoloni
Giuseppe P
GP
D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000379:methods*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000473:pathology