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Altered and unchanged red blood cells in urine in men: what do they mean?
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Erythrocytes in urine in men are an important diagnostic sign and prognostic factor that may indicate various pathological conditions. It can also be one of the signs of increased stress on internal organs and systems, impaired adaptive capacity of the kidneys. Sometimes it is a sign of poisoning or severe infection.
Causes of increased red blood cells in urine in men
The main reasons for the appearance of increased red blood cells in the urine of men are similar to those in women. The level of red blood cells increases if there are inflammatory processes in the kidneys and urinary organs. This may be a sign of a hormonal imbalance or the development of an autoimmune process (affecting mainly the kidneys). It may be a symptom of intoxication of the body (including food, alcohol poisoning, poisoning with bacterial and viral endo- and exotoxins). Indicates an increased load on the kidneys, a violation of their normal functional state.
Norm
Normally, there should be no red blood cells in the urine of men. Conventionally, no more than 1-3 red blood cells per field of vision (single) are allowed.
Red blood cells and protein in urine
Protein in the urine always indicates the development of kidney pathology. Erythrocytes and protein in the urine, especially in men, are a sign of an inflammatory process, intoxication. It can also be a sign of urological diseases, endocrine dysfunction, prostatitis, inflammation of the prostate gland, dysbacteriosis. It is worth noting that it is especially important to monitor these indicators after 45-50 years, when the reproductive function begins to gradually fade, and the man's body produces less testosterone, since at this time the body is in a state of adaptation, the load on the kidneys, liver, other organs increases significantly, and intoxication of the body develops.
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Altered red blood cells in urine in men
Altered erythrocytes often appear in the urine of men as a result of poisoning, exposure to poisons of various origins. Usually, such a picture develops against the background of poisoning with heavy metals, chemical reagents. Depending on the number of such erythrocytes and the level of changes, one can judge the nature of the pathological process: from mild poisoning, an inflammatory process to severe renal failure. Also, altered erythrocytes can indicate the development of anemia, bleeding. In the postoperative period, this is one of the unfavorable signs indicating a high risk of bleeding, anemia. A similar picture is observed with large blood loss, including hidden and internal bleeding.
Single red blood cells in urine in men
The appearance of single red blood cells in urine requires repeated diagnostics, especially in men. This may be a sign of an inflammatory process, dysfunction, urological diseases. But red blood cells can also accidentally get into the urine, for example, during urination, as a result of improper toilet of the external genitalia. Mandatory repeated analysis is required to confirm or refute the diagnosis.
Red blood cells in urine are found exclusively in men
Men should not normally have red blood cells in their urine. If they do appear, this indicates the development of an inflammatory process, disruption of normal kidney and liver function, disruption of hormonal levels, in particular, a decrease in the level of vasopressin and other hormones. This may also be a sign of poisoning. The more red blood cells are found in the urine, the more severe the degree of intoxication and the more unfavorable the prognosis.
Red blood cells in urine can be altered or unchanged. Thus, the appearance of unchanged red blood cells in urine is often observed in diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. This is a negative sign, which indicates that the kidneys cannot cope with the load. It can also be a sign of poisoning. A similar picture is observed in hypertension, any other diseases associated with vascular tone, the circulatory system. In more severe cases - a sign of the development of malignant tumors and severe diseases of the urinary tract, including the kidneys (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, nephritis, tuberculosis of the kidneys). Unchanged red blood cells can also indicate the development of infectious diseases of the kidneys, including viral, bacterial.
Sometimes red blood cells in the urine appear entirely in elderly men - this is a negative sign that may indicate a violation of the functional state of the kidneys, increased load on them, the development of senile, degenerative processes. This may be a sign of a violation of the concentration ability of the kidneys, which occurs in connection with the development of many acute and chronic kidney diseases. In addition, red blood cells in the urine of men may indicate an intense hormonal restructuring, a change in the functional state of the body.