haemoglobinuria

Last reviewed 01/2018

This is presence of haemoglobin in the urine as a consequence of haemoglobinaemia. This can be discriminated from haematuria because there are no red cells seen in the urine on microscopic examination.

Haemoglobinuria will only occur when the capacity of haptoglobulin to bind free haemoglobin is exceeded (binds up to 1.4 g/l). The presence of haemoglobinuria is only likely to occur if there is massive intravascular haemolysis.