White cells and keytones in urine...but no infection?

[lookame]

I've brouht it up before but I'm really confused. The past 2 times I've done a urine sample/test it's showed I'm spilling white cells into my urine. They've run tests and there's no infection but there's still white cells. How do they get in there? Why are they there?

 

[larRN2011]

I've read that the spilling of WBCs in the urine can go hand in hand with an Autoimmune Disorder (i.e Crohn's). If your condition is active it might be cause of that. If youre in remission, you might want to have the docs take a look at your kidneys and function. Now for the ketones in the urine. Ketones are the breakdown of fat which transfers into ketones and excreted from the kidneys ending up in your urine. Simply malnourished, not eating enough, sick, etc. there are many reasons that could cause both.


I hope you find out what is causing this, even if it is simply the Crohn's. Please don't rest solely on my clinical response. Talk with your physician, he should be able to explain more with your medical history, etc. Hope all is well!! Take care!

 

[lookame]

This helps a lot. When I was in the ER he did say that the ketone were from not eating, but never really explained why I kept having white cells. They sort of dismisses the entire thing altogether and then my OB yesterday dismissed me again. I tried asking them and they both told me they'd run labs and see about infections but that's about it. Thanks for your reply

 

[larRN2011]

I am sorry they just dismissed it. It can be very frustrating when we want answers and Health Care professionals do not address the concerns. My thought would be the Crohn's causing the spilling of WBCs. If they have ran tests and come up with nothing, maybe its simply Crohn's.

You're welcome. I hope you find the answers you are looking for

 

[littlemissh]

It is not uncommon for urine to have white cells and no infection. Its called sterile pyuria.
There are several reasons.
One is that you are taking an antibiotic and it prevents the bacteria from growing on the plate,
2 is that the infection has settled but the white cells are still hanging around,
3 is that there is inflammation eg in cystitis and so white cells are there but no infection.
4, some urine specimens simply show this and no-one knows why. If you have no symptoms it is nothing to worry about.
5 Poor technique when collecting specimen.

As mentioned before ketones are mostly related to hunger if no glucose is found in the urine.

Hope this helps