Specific gravity of urine: low, increased, normal. Specific gravity of urine in children. What does it mean if the specific gravity of urine is below normal and what to do

They can fluctuate within fairly wide limits, and these fluctuations can be physiological or pathological. Physiological fluctuations are a variant of the norm, and pathological ones reflect any disease.

An increase or decrease in relation to the norm of any indicator cannot be assessed unambiguously, and it is impossible to draw a conclusion about the presence of a disease. The test results can help to find out the possible cause of the disorders, which can be only at the stage of the syndrome, and not the formed disease. Therefore, the timely detection of abnormalities in the analyzes will help start treatment and prevent the progression of the disease. Also, test indicators can be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

Consider the probable causes of changes in various indicators of the general urine analysis.

Causes of urine discoloration

In the presence of pathology, urine can change its color, which indicates a certain syndrome and disease.

The correspondence of urine colors to various pathological conditions of the body is reflected in the table:

Pathological color
urine
Potential disease (cause of urine discoloration)
Brown, black
  • Hemolytic anemias (sickle cell, thalassemia, Minkowski-Shoffard anemia, Markiafava-Micelli disease, march anemia, syphilitic, hemolytic disease of newborns)
  • Malignant neoplasms (melanosarcoma)
  • Alcaptonuria
  • Poisoning with alcohol, heavy metal salts, phenol, cresol, etc.
Red (the color of meat
slops)
  • Kidney damage from trauma (blow, bruise, rupture, etc.)
  • Renal colic
  • Kidney infarction
  • Acute kidney inflammation (glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis)
Dark brown frothy (urine colored
beer)
  • Botkin's disease
  • Obstructive jaundice (blockage of the bile duct by a stone)
Orange, rose red
  • Hemolytic jaundice (hemolytic disease of the newborn)
  • Porphyrias (violation of hemoglobin synthesis)
Brown (strong color
tea)
  • Hemolytic jaundice
  • Some types of hemolytic anemias
Colorless or
white-yellow
  • Diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2
  • Diabetes insipidus
Milky (color of milk, cream)
  • High concentration of fats in urine (lipuria)
  • Pus in the urine (pyuria)
  • High concentration of phosphate salts

These color variations will help you navigate, but for an accurate diagnosis, you should take into account data from other examination methods and clinical symptoms.

Causes of the appearance of turbidity in the urine

Violation of the transparency of urine is the appearance of turbidity of varying severity. Turbidity in urine can be represented by large amounts of salts, epithelial cells, pus, bacterial agents, or mucus. The degree of turbidity depends on the concentration of the above impurities.

From time to time, every person has cloudy urine, which is formed by salts. If you can't donate this urine for analysis in the laboratory, you can conduct a test to find out the nature of the turbidity.

To distinguish salt in urine from other turbidity options at home, you can slightly warm the liquid. If the haze is formed by salts, then it can either increase or decrease until it disappears. The turbidity formed by epithelial cells, pus, bacterial agents or mucus does not change its concentration at all when the urine is heated.

The reasons for the change in the smell of urine

The smell of fresh urine is normal - not harsh or irritating.

Most often, the following pathological urine odors are noted:
1. The smell of ammonia in urine is characteristic of the development of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the urinary tract (cystitis, pyelitis, nephritis).
2. The smell of fruits (apples) in the urine develops in the presence of ketone bodies in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Reasons for changing the acidity of urine

The acidity of urine (pH) can change to an alkaline and acidic region, depending on the type of pathological process.

The reasons for the formation of acidic and alkaline urine are reflected in the table:

Causes of changes in urine density

The relative density of urine depends on the function of the kidneys, therefore, a violation of this indicator develops in various diseases of this organ.

Today, the following options for changing the density of urine are distinguished:
1. Hypersthenuria - high-density urine, more than 1030-1035.
2. Hypostenuria - urine with a low density, in the range 1007-1015.
3. Isotenuria - low density of primary urine, 1010 or less.

A single excretion of urine with high or low density does not provide grounds for detecting hypostenuria syndrome or hypersthenuria. These syndromes are characterized by prolonged excretion of urine during the day and night, with high or low density.

Pathological conditions causing disturbances in urine density are shown in the table:

Hypersthenuria Hypostenuria Isostenuria
Diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2
(urine density can reach 1040 and higher)
Diabetes insipidusChronic renal
failure severe
degree
Acute glomerulonephritisResorption of edema and inflammatory
infiltrates (period after the inflammatory process)
Subacute and
chronic
jade
severe
Congestive kidneyAlimentary dystrophy (partial
starvation, nutritional deficiencies, etc.)
Nephrosclerosis
Nephrotic syndromeChronic pyelonephritis
Edema formationChronic nephritis
Convergence of edemaChronic renal failure
DiarrheaNephrosclerosis (renal degeneration
tissue into the connective)
Glomerulonephritis
Interstitial nephritis

Determination of chemicals in urine for various diseases

As we can see, the physical properties of urine in the presence of any disease can change quite significantly. In addition to changes in physical properties, various chemicals appear in the urine, which are normally absent or present in trace amounts. Consider in which diseases there is an increase in concentration, or the appearance in the urine of the following substances:
  • protein;
  • bile acids (pigments);
  • indican;
  • ketone bodies.

Causes of protein in urine (proteinuria)

The appearance of protein in urine can be caused by various reasons, which are classified into several groups, depending on the origin. An abnormal increase in the concentration of protein in the urine above 0.03 g is called proteinuria. Depending on the protein concentration, moderate, moderate and severe proteinuria are distinguished. Moderate proteinuria is characterized by a loss of protein up to 1 g / day, average - 1-3 g / day, pronounced - more than 3 g / day.

Types of proteinuria

Depending on the origin, the following types of proteinuria are distinguished:
  • renal (renal);
  • stagnant;
  • toxic;
  • feverish;
  • extrarenal (extrarenal);
  • neurogenic.
The reasons for the development of various types of proteinuria are presented in the table:
Proteinuria type The reasons for the development of proteinuria
Renal (renal)
  • pyelonephritis
  • renal amyloidosis
  • kidney stone disease
  • kidney abscess
  • kidney tuberculosis
  • tumor or metastasis to the kidney
  • nephritis (acute and chronic)
  • nephrosis
  • nephrotic syndrome
  • eclampsia of pregnancy
  • nephropathy of pregnancy
  • paraproteinemic hemoblastosis (multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, diseases of heavy chains, immunoglobulins, secreting lymphomas)
Stagnant
  • chronic heart failure
  • neoplasms localized in the abdominal cavity
ToxicThe use of the following medicines in very high doses: salicylates, isoniazid, pain relievers and gold compounds
FeverishA severe increase in body temperature caused by any disease
Extrarenal (extrarenal)
  • cystitis
  • urethritis
  • pyelitis
  • prostatitis
  • vulvovaginitis
  • chronic constipation
  • long diarrhea
Neurogenic
  • skull injury
  • hemorrhage in the meningeal membrane
  • myocardial infarction
  • renal colic

Causes of the appearance of glucose (sugar) in the urine

The appearance of glucose in the urine is called glucosuria. The most common cause of glucosuria is diabetes mellitus, but there are other pathologies that lead to this symptom.

So, glucosuria is divided into the following types:
1. Pancreatic.
2. Renal.
3. Hepatic.
4. Symptomatic.
Pancreatic glucosuria develops against the background of diabetes mellitus. Renal glucosuria is a reflection of metabolic pathology, and it occurs from an early age. Hepatic glucosuria can develop with hepatitis, traumatic organ damage, or as a result of poisoning with toxic substances.

Symptomatic glucosuria is caused by the following pathological conditions:

  • concussion of the brain;
  • hyperthyroidism (increased concentration of thyroid hormones in the blood);
  • acromegaly;
  • Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome;
  • pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland).
In childhood, in addition to glucose, other types of monosaccharides - lactose, levulose or galactose, can be determined in the urine.

Causes of the appearance of bilirubin in urine

Bilirubin in urine appears with parenchymal or obstructive jaundice. Parenchymal jaundice includes acute hepatitis and cirrhosis. Obstructive jaundice includes various options for blocking the bile ducts with an obstacle to the normal outflow of bile (for example, cholelithiasis, calculous cholecystitis).

Causes of the appearance of urobilinogen in urine

Urobilinogen at a concentration exceeding 10 μmol / day is determined in urine with the following pathologies:
  • infectious hepatitis;
  • chronic hepatitis;
  • cirrhosis of the liver ;
  • tumors or metastases to the liver;
  • hemoglobinuria (hemoglobin or blood in the urine);
  • hemolytic jaundice (hemolytic disease of the newborn, hemolytic anemia);
  • infectious diseases (malaria, scarlet fever);
  • fever of any cause;
  • the process of resorption of foci of hemorrhage;
  • volvulus;
  • bile acids (pigments);
  • indican.

Causes of the appearance of bile acids and indican in urine

Bile acids (pigments) appear in urine when the concentration of direct bilirubin in the blood rises above 17-34 mmol / l.

The reasons for the appearance of bile acids in urine:

  • Botkin's disease;
  • hepatitis;
  • obstructive jaundice (calculous cholecystitis, gallstone disease);
  • cirrhosis of the liver.
Indikan is a product of decay of protein structures in the small intestine. This substance appears in the urine with gangrene, chronic constipation, all kinds of abscesses, abscesses and intestinal abscesses, malignant tumors or obstruction. Also, the appearance of indican in urine can be triggered by metabolic diseases - diabetes mellitus or gout.

Causes of the appearance of ketone bodies in urine

Ketone bodies include acetone, hydroxybutyric and acetoacetic acids.

The reasons for the appearance of ketone bodies in urine:

  • diabetes mellitus of moderate and high severity;
  • fever;
  • severe vomiting;
  • therapy with large doses of insulin for a long period of time;
  • eclampsia of pregnant women;
  • cerebral hemorrhage;
  • traumatic brain injury;
  • poisoning with lead, carbon monoxide, atropine, etc.
In the postoperative period, after a long stay under anesthesia, ketone bodies can also be detected in the urine.

Decoding microscopy of urinary sediment

One of the most informative fragments of a general urine analysis is sediment microscopy, in which the number of different elements in one field of view is counted.

Leukocytes, pus in the urine - possible causes of the appearance

An increase in the number of leukocytes more than 5 in the field of view indicates a pathological process of an inflammatory nature. An excess of white blood cells is called pyuria - pus in the urine.

The reasons causing the appearance of leukocytes in the urine:

  • acute pyelonephritis;
  • acute pyelitis;
  • acute pyelocystitis;
  • acute glomerulonephritis;
  • treatment with aspirin, ampicillin;
  • heroin use.

Sometimes, to clarify the diagnosis, urine is stained: the presence of neutrophilic leukocytes is characteristic of pyelonephritis, and lymphocytes - for glomerulonephritis.

Red blood cells, blood in the urine - possible causes of the appearance

Erythrocytes in urine can be present in varying amounts, and when their concentration is high, they speak of blood in the urine. By the number of erythrocytes in the urinary sediment, one can judge the development of the disease and the effectiveness of the treatment used.

The reasons for the appearance of red blood cells in the urine:

  • glomerulonephritis (acute and chronic);
  • pyelitis;
  • pyelocystitis;
  • chronic renal failure;
  • injury (bruise, rupture) of the kidneys, urethra or bladder;
  • tuberculosis of the kidney and urinary tract;
  • tumors;
  • taking certain medications (sulfa drugs, urotropin, anticoagulants).
In women, in the first days after childbirth, red blood cells are also detected in large quantities, but this is a variant of the norm.

Cylinders in urine - possible causes of the appearance

Among all types of cylinders, the appearance of hyaline is most often noted in the urinary sediment. All other types of cylinders (granular, waxy, epithelial, etc.) appear much less frequently.

The reasons for the detection of various types of cylinders in urine are presented in the table:

Type of cylinders
urinary sediment
Causes of the appearance of cylinders in the urine
Hyaline
  • nephritis (acute and chronic)
  • nephropathy of pregnancy
  • pyelonephritis
  • kidney tuberculosis
  • kidney tumors
  • kidney stone disease
  • diarrhea
  • epileptic seizure
  • fever
  • poisoning with mercuric chloride and heavy metal salts
Grainy
  • glomerulonephritis
  • pyelonephritis
  • severe lead poisoning
  • viral infections
Waxy
  • chronic renal failure
  • amyloidosis of the kidney
Erythrocyte
  • acute glomerulonephritis
  • kidney infarction
  • vein thrombosis of the lower extremities
  • high blood pressure
Epithelial
  • necrosis of the renal tubules
  • poisoning with salts of heavy metals, mercuric chloride
  • intake of substances toxic to the kidneys (phenols, salicylates, some antibiotics, etc.)

Epithelial cells in the urine - possible causes of the appearance

Epithelial cells are not only counted, but divided into three types - squamous epithelium, transitional and renal.

Squamous epithelial cells in the urinary sediment are detected in various inflammatory pathologies of the urethra - urethritis. In women, a slight increase in squamous epithelial cells in the urine may not be a sign of pathology. The appearance of squamous epithelial cells in the urine of men undoubtedly indicates the presence of urethritis.

Transitional epithelial cells in the urinary sediment are detected in cystitis, pyelitis or pyelonephritis. Distinctive signs of pyelonephritis in this situation is the appearance of transitional epithelial cells in the urine, in combination with protein and a shift in the reaction towards the acidic side.

Renal epithelial cells appear in urine with serious and deep organ damage. So, most often, cells of the renal epithelium are detected in nephritis, amyloid or lipoid nephrosis or poisoning.

Pathologies leading to the excretion of salts in the urine

Crystals of various salts can appear in the urine and normally, for example, due to the peculiarities of the diet. However, in some diseases, the excretion of salts in the urine is also noted.

Various diseases that cause the appearance of salts in the urine are presented in the table:

The table shows the most common salts that are of diagnostic value.

Mucus and bacteria in urine are possible causes of

Mucus in the urine is determined with urolithiasis or long-term chronic inflammation of the urinary tract (cystitis, urethritis, etc.). In men, mucus can appear in the urine with prostatic hyperplasia.

The appearance of bacteria in the urine is called bacteriuria. It is caused by an acute infectious and inflammatory process occurring in the organs of the urinary system (for example, pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis, etc.).
The general analysis of urine provides a fairly large amount of information that can be used to make an accurate diagnosis in combination with other techniques. However, remember that even the most accurate analysis does not allow diagnosing any disease, since for this it is necessary to take into account clinical symptoms and data from objective examinations.

Before use, you must consult a specialist.

Relative density is a measure that helps evaluate kidney function based on urine content. The amount of fluid moving through the body is unstable. Its volumetric indicators vary depending on different circumstances:

  • daily time;
  • eating salty and spiced food;
  • the amount of water in the diet;
  • sweating during sports.

The formation of primary urine occurs after the blood is filtered by capillary cells. For a day, from 150 liters of primary urine, about 2 liters of secondary urine are formed.

The main reason for a decrease in the level of urine density is a failure in the production of vasopressin, a peptide hormone of the hypothalamus.

For example, in certain forms of diabetes insipidus, the amount of urine secreted by the patient per day can be up to 20 liters at the prescribed rate of 1.5 liters. This is due to the actual lack of vasopressin in humans.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) accumulates in the pituitary gland, and then enters the blood channel. Its main functions:

  • fluid retention in the human body;
  • stenosis of the lumen of the arteries.

ADH improves fluid reabsorption, regulates urine concentration, and reduces its amount. By normalizing the abundance of water in the body, vasopressin increases the permeability of fluid in the kidney canals.

The accumulation of solids in urine is a variable value, directly dependent on the composition of the blood plasma. Humoral and nervous biomechanisms are responsible for this process.

The fact that a person has a reduced specific gravity of urine is often found when determining pathologies that are not in any way connected by the urinary organs. The establishment of the relative density is done after examining the general analysis of urine, along with the number of leukocytes, as well as the products of protein metabolism.

The low specific gravity of the liquid is revealed by performing special tests:

  • research on Nechiporenko;
  • Folgard's diagnostics.

Carrying out these measurements helps to obtain the most accurate results of the relative density and even roughly establish the cause of hypostenuria.

The main instrument with which samples are taken is the urometer, which determines the density.

The analysis includes several steps:

  1. The biological fluid is placed in a cylindrical vessel. When some foam has formed, remove it with filter paper.
  2. The urometer is immersed in urine so that the device does not touch the walls of the container.
  3. After the urometer stops oscillating, the specific gravity is counted along the border of the lower meniscus.

To get the most truthful result, it is necessary to take into account the air temperature, taking as a basis an average of 15 ° C.

Causes

The specific gravity of the released liquid is considered to be reduced when the state of the level is up to 1.01. This state of affairs indicates a decrease in the efficient activity of the kidneys. The ability to filter harmful elements is significantly reduced, which can cause slagging of the body, the appearance of various complications.

However, this indicator is sometimes considered the norm. For example, during pregnancy in women, hypostenuria often develops with the manifestation of toxicosis. In this condition, disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract sometimes occur, causing water retention in the body. Expectant mothers suffer from urinary disorders - urine is emitted frequently, but in small quantities.

Violation of the specific gravity of urine in women expecting the birth of a baby also happens for the following reasons:

  • Changes in the hormonal field. The increased level of female hormones causes a certain imbalance in other biological substances.
  • When carrying a child, many factors appear in the body that affect the decrease in the active functioning of the kidney. It is an enlarging uterus that compresses the pelvic organs. It also dilates the blood vessels, which puts more stress on the kidneys.

After the birth of the baby, urine is taken from him to determine the functioning of the kidneys and to assess the entire state of health. The density of liquid discharge, as a rule, in a baby is no more than 1.015-1.017. These data remain for the first month, and then begin to increase after changing the order of nutrition.

Pathological conditions in which there is a decrease in the specific gravity of urine:

  • nephrogenic diabetes insipidus;
  • polydipsia (intense thirst);
  • neurogenic diabetes insipidus.

These are diseases in the course of which the production of vasopressin decreases and fluid reabsorption is not carried out. With any urination, a considerable amount of urine is excreted with a small content of urea and its salts.

Urine analysis is prescribed for examination for any disease, since it is a very informative diagnostic technique and can tell about the state of many organs of the patient. Urine is assessed according to various parameters - color, transparency, the presence of impurities and other indicators. Of no small importance in diagnosis is the specific gravity of urine or its density, which can decrease or increase in various pathologies.

The density of urine is increased - what does it mean?

An increased relative gravity of urine can be detected by traditional general urine analysis and is caused by the amount of undissolved and dissolved substances contained in urine. The more of these components will be present in the composition of urine, the higher its relative density. If, during a general laboratory study, it turned out that the specific gravity of urine is abnormal, then the patient is assigned additional diagnostic procedures.

Relative density is measured in various studies, the most famous of which is. Such an analysis of urine, in contrast to the general one, allows for a rather informative assessment of renal functionality (urinary and concentration).

In fact, the Zimnitsky test is a diagnostic technique that measures the density of urine collected at certain hours. At the same time, a general urine test can also indicate an increase in urine density.

Usually morning urine that has accumulated overnight is not examined. Collection of biomaterial for research begins with the second urination after awakening. Collect urine every 3 hours, for the first time at 9 am, in just a day you will get 8 portions, and each of them will be separately examined for the necessary indicators, in particular for specific gravity or density. During the collection process, it is recommended to maintain the same diet, the main thing is to record the amount of alcohol consumed.

The values

If in the process of research it turned out that the density is slightly higher than the norm, that is, it rises above 1.035, then they speak of hypersthenuria. This is the name of the phenomenon in which the specific gravity of urine exceeds the norm.

Normal values ​​according to age:

  1. Newborns in the first 10 days of life - 1.008-1.018;
  2. At 2-3 years old - 1.010-1.017;
  3. 4-5 years old - 1.012-1.020;
  4. 10-12 years old - 1.011-1.025;
  5. In adults, the urine density in the range of 1.010-1.025 is considered the norm.

Fluctuations in daily urine values ​​are considered normal. The morning portion, for example, will be more exceeded, because the patient usually does not drink anything at night, so the urine is not diluted in anything. Specific gravity of urine in the daytime has the lowest density and is excreted in the largest volumes.

Causes

There are several factors leading to a relative increase in the specific gravity of urine. In pregnant women, adult patients and children, they may differ slightly. The reasons for the deviations are pathological or physiological. Pathological factors that a high urine density is detected are associated with certain diseases, and physiological factors can be caused by temporary factors such as heavy sweating, drinking a lot of fluids during the day, etc.

In pregnant women

In pregnant women, against the background of their condition, traditional toxicosis occurs, which is the main reason for an increase in urine density. In addition, some patients have fluid retention in the body, which doctors associate with preeclampsia. This factor also provokes the development of hypersthenuria in pregnant women.

In children

In a child, an increase in specific gravity is often associated with renal diseases and changes in organ tissues. In addition, children often have intestinal infections or poisoning, causing vomiting or diarrhea. These manifestations cause severe dehydration of the body and lead to the fact that the density of urine is high.

The specific gravity indicator can be increased in the first days of a newborn's life, but doctors say that this deviation is often only physiological in nature and after several days it returns to normal on its own.

In adults

Hypersthenuria usually occurs against a background of factors such as:

  • The presence of protein in urine or proteinuria;
  • Increased glucose levels typical for diabetics. Experts also call this condition glucosuria;
  • The presence of kidney problems such as kidney failure, glomerulonephritis, infectious pathologies such as cystitis or nephritis;
  • Taking a large number of medications that are actively excreted in the urine, for example, diuretics or antibiotics;
  • Fluid deficiency, when a person drinks a small amount of water per day;
  • Severe organic dehydration associated with profuse sweating, diarrhea, or uncontrollable vomiting.

In general, the reasons why urine density is higher than normal are approximately the same in all segments of the population. To determine the true causes of such violations, it is recommended to pass the Zimnitsky test, which will allow you to study in detail the renal activity and get a more complete picture of their functionality.

A person has to deal with various medical services throughout his life. This can be a consultation with a medical specialist, examination of any biomaterials, examination of internal organs, taking various medications. Absolutely all people take a general urine test, it is prescribed to all people - from babies to pensioners. This is the most common and at the same time informative method of urine examination.

General urine analysis: what is this study?

The analysis data is an indicator of the functioning of the kidneys, therefore, at the slightest suspicion of their dysfunction, doctors prescribe this study. In addition, the results of the analysis may indicate other pathological processes in the body. This method can detect malfunctioning of organs, determining the general properties of urine and microscopy of urinary sediment. The main parameters by which the doctor draws conclusions about the patient's condition are as follows:

  • urine color;
  • its transparency;
  • density of urine;
  • the presence of protein;
  • acidity;
  • glucose indicators;
  • what is the patient's hemoglobin;
  • bilirubin;
  • urobilinogen;
  • nitrites;
  • Availability ;
  • epithelium;
  • the number of red blood cells;
  • leukocytes;
  • what bacteria are in the urine;
  • cylinders.

This study for patients with kidney pathologies is prescribed quite often in order to track the dynamics of changes in the functioning of the excretory system and the effectiveness of the medications used. A healthy person, ideally, should take this analysis 1-2 times a year for the timely detection of pathologies.

What are the rules for collecting analysis?

The research must be carried out with the utmost precision. It must be ensured from the beginning of the urine collection to the final results. Before collecting urine, it is necessary to carry out hygiene of the relevant organs. It should be noted that various food jars or containers are not suitable for analysis. To collect biomaterial, a special container is required, which is used only for this purpose. You can buy it at any pharmacy.

In the evening before taking the test, you need to limit the use of foods that can color the urine: beets, carrots and others. In addition, you need to monitor the use of various medications on the eve, as they can distort the test results. During the period of menstruation, the results can also be false, so you need to wait until the end of this period.

You can not drink alcoholic beverages in the evening before the analysis. The content of trace elements in urine can change significantly.

What can be identified with this analysis?

A general urine test is prescribed in order to determine the state of the body with suspicions of some pathology. This analysis is prescribed in the event of diseases of the urinary system, to determine the dynamics of the course of the disease and control it. The analysis helps to prevent possible complications in time, and also shows the effectiveness of the treatment. This research is also often used in examinations of people undergoing professional examinations.

Determination of urine density

The density of urine is the relative ratio of the density of two materials, one of which is considered as a reference. In this case, the sample is distilled water. The density of urine is usually unstable. The reason is that the density changes per day, this is due to the unevenness of the output of metabolic products dissolved in the urine.

When the blood is filtered, the kidneys form primary urine, most of which is reabsorbed and returned to the bloodstream. Based on the described process, the kidneys make a concentrate of secondary urine. The process described above is called concentration. If the latter is violated, this will lead to a decrease in the relative density of urine. Concentration dysfunctions can be diabetes insipidus, some types of chronic nephritis and other diseases.

If protein, sugar, leukocytes, erythrocytes and the like appear in the urine, this contributes to an increase in the density of urine. The relative density of urine, or rather, its average value, depends on the age of the person. Also, the concentration function of the kidneys depends on age. Generally speaking, these two concepts are closely related.

Physiology of the occurrence of urine density

The density of urine, or rather, the process of its occurrence, consists of three stages. These are filtration, reabsorption and tubular secretion.

The first stage - filtration - occurs in the malpighian body of the nephron. It is possible due to the high hydrostatic pressure in the capillaries of the glomeruli, which is created due to the fact that the diameter of the inflowing arteriole is larger than that of the outflowing one.

The second stage is called reabsorption or, in other words, absorption in the opposite direction. It is carried out in the curled and smooth tubules of the nephron, where, in fact, the primary urine enters.

The final, third stage of urination is tubular secretion. The cells of the renal tubules, together with special enzymes, actively transfer toxic metabolic products from the blood capillaries into the lumen of the tubules: urea, uric acid, creatine, creatinine and others.

The rate of relative density of urine

The relative density of urine normally has a wide range. Moreover, the process of its formation will be determined by normally functioning kidneys. The relative density of urine tells a lot to a specialist. The rate of this indicator will fluctuate many times during the day. This is due to the fact that from time to time a person takes a variety of foods, drinks water and loses fluid through sweating, breathing and other functions. Under various conditions, the kidneys excrete urine with a density of 1.001 - 1.040. It is believed that the density of urine is normal. If a healthy adult drinks a sufficient amount of water, then the relative density of urine, the norm of which is indicated above, in the morning can have the following indicators: 1.015 - 1.020. Morning urine can be very saturated, as no fluid enters the body at night.

The density of urine is normal if its color is straw-yellow, transparent and has a faint odor. Her reaction should range from 4 to 7.

Why is hypersthenuria dangerous?

If a person has an increased urine density, this indicates that certain pathological processes occur in the body, which in one word are called "hypersthenuria". Such a disease will be manifested by an increase in edema, in particular, with acute glomerulonephritis or insufficient blood circulation in the kidneys. If there is a huge extrarenal fluid loss. This includes diarrhea, vomiting, large blood loss, burns over a large area, edema, abdominal trauma, intestinal obstruction. Hypersthenuria will also be indicated by the appearance in the urine of a large amount of glucose, protein, drugs and their metabolites. Toxicosis during pregnancy also becomes the cause of this disease. If you passed the analysis which turned out to be high (more than 1030), such a result will indicate hypersthenuria. Such results must be discussed with a doctor.

The high density of urine does not carry a great danger to human life. But it can be of two types:

  1. Kidney disorders such as nephrotic syndrome.
  2. Absence of primary renal pathology (glucosuria, hypovolemic conditions, in which the reabsorption of water in the tubules increases as compensation, and therefore urine begins to concentrate).

What does hypostenuria indicate?

Hypostenuria is the opposite of hypersthenuria. It is characterized by decreased urine density. The cause is acute renal tubular damage, diabetes insipidus, persistent renal failure, or malignant hypertension.

Hypostenuria indicates that there has been a violation of the concentration ability of the kidneys. And this, in turn, speaks of renal failure. And if you have this disease, it is advisable to immediately consult a nephrologist, who will prescribe you timely and necessary treatment.

Urine density standards for children

As discussed in this article above, urine density norms are different for each age. Urine analysis of an adult is significantly different from that of a child. It can vary in many ways, but its main difference is in the norms. The relative density of urine in a child must meet the following standards:

In a one-day-old baby, the norm is from 1.008 to 1.018;

If the baby is about six months old, for him the norm will be 1.002-1.004;

From six months to one year of age, normal urine gravity is in the range 1.006 to 1.010;

At ages three to five, urine density limits will range from 1.010 to 1.020;

For children who are about 7-8 years old, 1.008-1.022 is considered the norm;

And those who are between 10 and 12 years old, their urine density should correspond to the norm of 1.011-1.025.

It can be very difficult for parents to collect urine from their child, especially if he is very small. But in order to determine the density of urine, at least 50 ml must be delivered to the laboratory where such an analysis is carried out.

Urine has a certain set of indicators, consisting of color, odor, acidity and specific gravity. The relative density of urine is determined from the size of the amount of dissolved and undissolved substances, the rate of which is individual for each patient and depends on a number of indicators.

The work is carried out using the senses and medical equipment, which allows you to perform a number of manipulations and actions that help to study all the properties of urine. This procedure can only be carried out in a laboratory in compliance with a number of measures and restrictions, without which it is impossible to obtain a reliable result.

Valid values

During the day, a person performs any actions, eats, sleeps, and as a result of these actions, the kidneys work in different ways.

From certain conditions, lifestyle and time of day, a relative density of 1.001-1.040 stands out. In the urine of an adult who does not suffer from chronic diseases, these figures fluctuate between 1.015-1.020, in children, the norm of urine density is 1.003-1.025.

These indicators, which are considered the norm, have a fairly wide range. How well the kidneys function depends on the density of urine. With plenty of drink, the morning urine is quite saturated, because at night the liquid does not enter the body.

You also need to pay attention to the color and smell. A straw yellow tint and the absence of a pungent odor speaks of an acceptable indicator.

The following parameters should be considered for people of different ages:

  • newborns up to 10 days of life from 1.008-1.018 g / l;
  • children from two to four years old from 1.01-1.017 g / l;
  • up to 12 years old from 1.012-1.02 g / l;
  • after 12 years and adults from 1.010-1.022 g / l.

The relative density of urine in an adult and a child is influenced by many components. For example, in children 6 months old, 1.002-1.004 is considered the norm, from 6 to 12 months - the acceptable range is from 1.006-1.010.

Regardless of the child's age, urine must be collected in an amount of at least 50 ml so that specialists can work and conduct research in the laboratory with a sufficient amount of material.

Deviations from the norm