What type of cells might indicate a hematological condition in a urine sample?

The presence of erythrocytes, or red blood cells, in a urine sample can indicate various hematological conditions. Normally, urine is either free of or contains only a very small number of erythrocytes. When erythrocytes are found in significant amounts, it can suggest issues such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones, glomerulonephritis, or more systemic hematological disorders like hemolytic anemia. These conditions often cause blood to leak into the urine, leading to hematuria, which is a clinical indicator that requires further investigation to pinpoint the underlying cause.

While leukocytes can also be detected in urine and are associated with infections or inflammation, their presence is more indicative of an acute inflammatory response rather than a direct hematological condition. Epithelial cells are typically shed from the lining of the urinary tract and may not indicate any specific pathology unless in significant numbers or indicative of a tumor. Crystals in urine often relate to metabolic or dietary issues rather than hematological conditions, as they form primarily from the crystallization of urine constituents and not directly from blood. Therefore, the identification of erythrocytes in urine is particularly significant and points towards potential hematological conditions that merit further attention.