Red blood cells produced in the bone marrow are called erythrocytes. Their transport function allows you to deliver oxygen to tissues at the cellular level and take carbon dioxide to the lungs. In addition to the main functionality, they take part in water-salt metabolism and regulation of blood acidity levels. For the normal functioning of the body, their quantity must correspond to age standards.
Normal indicators
The level of red blood cells contained in the bloodstream depends on the gender and age group of the patient. For a healthy person, the following level is acceptable:
- women – 3.7-4.7*1012 per liter;
- men – 4-5.1*1012 per 1 liter.
In childhood, the concentration of corpuscles constantly changes; for each month or day of a newborn’s life, there is a certain standard. Small fluctuations are observed after the first year of life, but the values are not particularly different from the same data for adults. At 12-13 years of age, the indicator is equal to adult values.
Exceeding the norm of red blood cells in urine in adults
As already written above, in people of different sexes, hematuria can have completely different causes. Therefore, the doctor takes into account gender when making this diagnosis.
Causes of blood in urine in men
In men, an increased number of red blood cells in the urine can be caused by diseases of the reproductive system:
1. Prostatitis. This is an inflammatory process in the prostate gland and it affects the blood vessels just as negatively as any other inflammation.
2. Prostate cancer. The tumor destroys the walls of blood vessels, causing blood to appear in the urine.
Hematuria in women: causes
Female genital diseases can also cause excess red blood cells in the urine:
1. Cervical erosion. This is bleeding damage to the mucous membrane, caused either mechanically (trauma), or due to hormonal imbalance, or as a consequence of an infectious disease of the genital organs.
2. Uterine bleeding. Blood from the vagina can easily leak into the urine, this is called “false hematuria.”
Classification Features
There are two types of erythrocytosis:
- Primary hereditary – refers to genetic pathologies, is rare. The source of the development of the disease is the low susceptibility of oxygen receptors in the kidneys and increased levels of erythropoietin. A sign of the disease is a pronounced loss of strength, attacks of dizziness, a change in the standard shade of the skin and mucous membranes into purple shades, and reduced blood clotting.
- Secondary or acquired - provoked by oxygen starvation of cells, occurs against the background of neoplasms in the liver, kidneys, and respiratory organs.
If the primary form of pathology is ignored, there is a risk of vascular complications, including thrombus formation. The problem is related to changes in the rate of blood clotting.
Symptoms of increased red cells
An increased number of red blood cells can be determined by a blood test. External manifestations are not so noticeable. Only a few symptoms can indicate their increase. Signs of oversaturation with red blood cells in the human body can be:
- constant fatigue
- presence of shortness of breath,
- pain syndromes in the joints,
- dampness on the feet and palms,
- skin itching,
- bad dream.
Polycythemia, which occurs when the level of red blood cells increases, leads to blurred vision, headaches, muscle and chest pain, dizziness, high blood pressure and tinnitus. With mild polycythaemic syndrome, there are often no symptoms.
Increase in red blood cells: prevention
Primary sources of increasing values
Changes of physiological nature are provoked by:
- severe emotional stress;
- severe dehydration;
- long-term sports activities;
- living in high mountain areas.
The pathological form of erythrocytosis is associated with:
- with erythremia - tumor damage to the hematopoietic organs;
- heart defects - when arterial and venous blood is mixed, there is an insufficient supply of oxygen to the tissues; to compensate for the deviation, the bone marrow begins to produce a larger number of red blood cells;
- neoplasms in the kidneys, pituitary gland, adrenal glands or liver - the organs are responsible for the disposal of old elements in the blood, the formation of the disease leads to the cessation of this function, the tests indicate a predominance of mature forms;
- diseases of the respiratory tract and heart, infectious pathologies - a large number of young or reticular types of elements are observed;
- primary pulmonary hypertension;
- Pickwick's syndrome caused by obesity, pulmonary insufficiency, high blood pressure.
Less dangerous sources of development of an increased number of red blood cells include:
- lack of digestive enzymes;
- dehydration due to heat or prolonged physical activity;
- low-quality water: with chlorine, contaminated, highly carbonated;
- vitamin deficiency or deficiency due to liver dysfunction;
- smoking.
Against the backdrop of a large number of reasons causing changes in tests, only a doctor can correctly determine the original source of the deviation.
Causes of increased red blood cells in urine
If a urine test shows a higher level of red blood cells than normal, then the source of the bleeding should be determined. There are 4 groups of reasons that can cause hematuria:
- Somatic (prerenal) - causes not related to the pathology of the urinary system;
- Renal – bleeding is caused by kidney disease;
- Postrenal – the cause of hematuria is due to pathology of the urinary tract;
- Physiological - external causes not related to the state of the internal systems of the body.
Keep in mind that an increased content of red blood cells in the urine in men and the same symptom in women can occur for various reasons; individual characteristics of anatomy and physiology should be taken into account.
Somatic
There is no renal pathology in this case, and the increased content of red blood cells in the urine is a reaction of the kidneys to a concomitant disease of another organ. Somatic causes of hematuria include:
- Thrombocytopenia. The condition is characterized by a reduced number of platelets in the blood, which leads to a blood clotting disorder. This explains the presence of blood in the urine.
- Hemophilia. A hereditary disorder of blood clotting, which passes through the glomeruli into the urine.
- Intoxication. Some toxins, when entering the body, increase the permeability of the glomerular membrane, which causes red blood cells to enter the urine. Such conditions occur due to viral and bacterial infections.
Rental
This means that the increase in red blood cells is caused by kidney disease:
- Acute and chronic glomerulonephritis. The filtering function of the organ is disrupted, causing blood cells to enter the urine.
- Kidney cancer. When tumor formation occurs, the walls of blood vessels are affected, which leads to bleeding. A urine test reveals unchanged red blood cells.
- Urolithiasis. Stones damage the mucous membrane, which is the cause of bleeding.
- Pyelonephritis. The inflammatory process makes the walls of blood vessels more permeable, due to which blood enters the urine.
- Hydronephrosis. With this disease, the pressure in the tissues of the urinary system is increased due to the obstructed outflow of urine. The kidneys are stretched, and the vessels receive microdamage.
Also, the cause of blood in the urine can be injuries and injuries to the kidneys (bruises, knife blows, falls, etc.).
Post-Rental
Post-ventral causes of hematuria are diseases of the bladder and urinary tract.
1. Cystitis. The picture is similar to pyelonephritis - red blood cells in the urine appear due to the walls of blood vessels weakened by inflammation, only in this case - the vessels of the bladder, and not the kidneys.
2. Presence of sand/stone in the bladder. The mucous membranes are injured and bleeding begins.
3. Injuries and wounds of the bladder and urethra. Such conditions often cause gross hematuria.
4. Bladder cancer. Often, blood vessels rupture due to tumors. The intensity of bleeding and the amount of blood in the urine directly depend on the diameter of the rupture.
Physiological
In addition to the above, there are a number of reasons that can lead to an increase in the rate of red blood cells in the urine. However, they are external and not related to diseases of the internal organs.
- Increased air temperature. Hematuria can be caused by intense work in a hot room or excessive exposure to a sauna.
- Severe stress negatively affects vascular permeability.
- Alcohol. Increases pressure in the vessels of the kidneys, narrowing them, and at the same time increasing the permeability of their walls.
- Excessive physical activity.
- Eating a lot of spices.
Changes in childhood
A pathological increase in the number of red blood cells in children is associated with various factors:
- with a low level of oxygen in maternal blood - the anomaly manifests itself in newborns;
- regular exposure of the baby to tobacco smoke (passive smoking);
- living in high mountain areas;
- regular sports activities.
A list of probable sources of deviation in children is presented:
- congenital heart defects;
- bone marrow dysfunction;
- hypertension in the pulmonary circulation;
- blood pathologies;
- obstructive pulmonary lesions with a chronic course;
- acute bronchitis, rhinitis or allergies;
- obesity of the last two degrees;
- dehydration caused by vomiting or diarrhea;
- disruption of the adrenal cortex.
Serious diagnoses associated with changes in the number of red blood cells include cancer of the kidneys and liver. Erythrocytosis is not an independent disease; it indicates latent pathologies or the presence of external influence factors.
What do elevated red blood cells mean in a urine test?
An excess of red blood cells is diagnosed both visually and through laboratory tests
- Stage 1: visual change in urine color. When the number of red blood cells in the urine is several times higher, it acquires a reddish-brown tint. This is the first sign of macrohematuria - this is the official name of this pathology.
- Stage 2: microscopic examination. The diagnosis is confirmed by urine analysis and Nechiporenko test. The norm of red blood cells in urine in women is 0-3, in men - 0-1 (in the analysis they often write “single”) and up to 6 in newborns. If there are more than 3 red blood cells in the field of view, this indicates an excess of the norm.
When testing urine according to Nechiporenko, no more than 1000 red blood cells should be detected per 1 ml of urine.
Next, it is important to determine the type of blood cells present in the material being studied.
1. Unchanged red blood cells in the urine - carry hemoglobin, are red in color and have the shape of a biconcave disc.
2. Changed - colorless, ring-shaped cells that do not contain hemoglobin, they are called alkaline..
Blood in the urine is a serious reason to see a doctor immediately. The causes of this pathology can be very dangerous. Urine is formed in the renal glomeruli, where it immediately begins to be filtered. And if the analysis showed that the content of red blood cells, white blood cells or proteins in the urine is increased, then they have penetrated the glomerular membrane, which indicates a disruption of the kidneys.
Prevention of increased red blood cells
The cause of the increased production of red blood cells is determined by the doctor. To maintain normal red blood cell levels, it is enough to adhere to preventive measures.
To avoid increased blood concentrations, it is recommended to drink more fluid. The water must be purified, so it is better to buy it in bottles or collect it from wells.
Eating fresh vegetables and fruits has a good effect on blood composition. They contain many vitamins and microelements that regulate the content of red blood cells.
You can reduce the concentration of red cells in the blood by eliminating foods containing iron from your diet. You will have to give up red meat, liver, beans, lentils, spinach, cabbage, prunes and raisins. Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks, smoking or taking aspirin. Regular physical activity will help regulate red blood cell levels.
