A 40 year old woman experiencing fatigue, headaches, unintentional weight loss and high blood pressure is ordered to give a urine sample by her doctor.  In addition, she is experiencing excessive urination and polydipsia (excessive thirst).  Her urinalysis results are as follows:

Chemical
 

COLOR	amber	GLUCOSE	200 mg/dL
APPEARANCE	clear	KETONES	negative
SPECIFIC GRAVITY	1.018	BILIRUBIN	negative
pH	6.5	UROBILINOGEN	normal
PROTEIN	negative	BLOOD	negative
SSA	negative	NITRITES	negative
		LEUKOCYTES	negative

Questions
 

1) If a Clinitest is performed to confirm the glucose present, what would you expect the results to be and why?

2) What is the most probable diagnosis for this patient?

        a. glomerulonephritis
        b. diabetes insipidus
        c. chronic pyelonephritis
        d. diabetes mellitus

3) The most helpful information needed to answer Question #2 was:

        a. the increased specific gravity and the increased glucose levels
        b. the negative leukocytes, nitrite and blood
        c. the excessive urination coupled with the excessive thirst and weight loss
        d. both A and C are correct
 

4)  What can the patient do to treat her condition?

        a. Get a prescription for acyclovir
        b. Change her diet
        c.  Ask her doctor for pyridium
        d.  get a kidney transplant
 
 

---

Move on to Next Page

Return to UA cases homepage