Value of immunofluorescence staining of urine erythrocytes for Tamm-Horsfall protein in determining the origin of hematuria

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of immunofluorescence staining of urine erythrocytes for Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) in determining the origin of hematuria, and to sum up the hematuria situation from 2004 to 2007 for understanding pathological distribution between renal hematuria and non-renal hematuria. Methods Urine erythrocytes from 30 patients of glomerular hematuria and 25 patients of non-glomerular specimens were immunocytochemically stained with antibody against human Tamm-Horsfall protein. The results were compared with the pathological findings. Results Among the 30 patients of glomerular hematuria according to pathological diagnosis, 28 were confirmed by the immunofluorescence assay, with a coincidence rate of 93.3%. Among the 25 patients of non-renal hematuria according to pathological diagnosis, 22 were confirmed by the immunofluorescence assay, with a coincidence rate of 88%. Pathologic analysis showed IgA nephropathy in 16 of the patients with renal hematuria (16/30, 53.3%), small glomerular lesions in 10 patients (10/30, 33.3%), non-IgA nephropathy mesangial cell proliferative glomerulonephritis in 3 patients (3/30, 10.0%) and focal sclerosing lomerulonephritis stage in 1 patients (1/30, 3.3%). Conclusion Immunofluorescence staining of urine erythrocytes for THP are stable, accurate, objective and reliable for identifying the origin of hematuria, which provides the foundation of the early diagnosis and treatment of patients with hematuria.