Crystalluria

Crystalluria refers to crystals found in the urine when performing a urine test. Crystalluria is considered often as a benign condition and as one of the side effects of sulfonamides and penicillins.

Crystalluria
Comparison of different types of urine crystals

Struvite crystals found in a urinalysis

The main reason for the identification of urinary crystals is to detect the presence of the relatively few abnormal types that may represent a disease.

Clinical significance

It can be an indication of urolithiasis.

It may be relevant when there is presence of specific abnormal types of crystals (cystine, cholesterol, leucine, tyrosine, etc.)^[1] and that may be a sign of metabolic or liver disorders such as cystinuria.^[2]

Microcrystallization is irritating to the uroepithelium and can lead to symptoms including dysuria, frequency, urgency, and urinary incontinence, as well as hematuria, just like in urinary tract infection. ^[3]: 346