Prevalence of Leukocyturia in Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition in which normal hemoglobin is replaced by hemoglobin S. People with this condition suffer from complications caused when their red blood cells cannot pass through blood vessels. The kidneys are organs full of thin, delicate blood vessels. As those vessels are damaged, blood components seep into the urine. White blood cells in the urine is known as leukocyturia, and it may result from sickle cell disease.

Sickle Cell Disease

• When a genetic mutation causes the creation of hemoglobin S instead of normal hemoglobin, the red cells of the affected person take on a different shape. The cells are no longer round, disc-shaped and flexible. They are the shape of sickles or crescent moons. Furthermore, the cells are inflexible and easy to break. They also clog small blood vessels because of their inflexibility. This continuous clog causes damage to the blood vessels.

Renal Complications

• Among the complications related to sickle cell disease is kidney disease (renal failure). This occurs when the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys are clogged. These blood vessels are extremely small in order to allow toxins to be filtered out of the body and into the urine. Signs of renal failure include the secretion of protein, glucose (sugar), red blood cells and white blood cells in the urine. Basically, the thin vessels burst and allow their contents to be emptied out into the urine.

Leukocyturia

• Leukocyturia is the presence of white blood cells in urine. When there is no kidney disease, white blood cells may be seen in a person's urine when they have a urinary tract infection or when there is an irritation to the tract of some sort. Kidney stones may also cause leukocyturia. People with sickle cell disease may have leukocyturia as their condition destroys their kidneys' blood vessels. Among all other diagnostic and therapeutic tests, careful monitoring of leukocyturia helps determine the extent of kidney disease in sickle cell disease.

Prevalence

• There are no hard data to accurately determine the prevalence (current level) of leukocyturia in sickle cell disease. People with the disease who are under proper treatment and manage their disease well have minimal manifestations of their disease. On the other hand, those who do not treat their condition and are not under medical supervision suffer continuous complications. So there is the possibility that everyone with sickle cell disease will develop leukocyturia.

Prevention/Solution

• It is always a good idea to be under regular medical care if you have sickle cell disease or even if you are a sickle cell gene carrier. This is because careful medical management of your condition will prevent complications like damage to your kidneys and other vital organs. People with sickle cell disease who manage their condition can live long and prosperous lives with minimal, rare complications.