urinalysis in liver disease
Last reviewed 06/2021
The urinanalysis results in three classes of liver disease are presented:
- obstructive jaundice:
- urine is initially dark orange but may become green as the jaundice deepens
- positive for bilirubin
- negative for urobilinogen in complete cholestasis
- haemolytic jaundice:
- urine normal colour but may darken on standing
- negative for bilirubin
- positive for urobilinogen
- compensated hepatic cirrhosis:
- negative for bilirubin
- may be positive for urobilinogen because the failing liver does not adequately metabolize the normal quantity of re-absorbed urobilinogen