Should there be leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy and what to do with an increased value?

Regular check-ups are crucial to monitoring the mother’s and the unborn child’s health during pregnancy. Urine analysis is a common test that looks for leukocytes among other indicators. White blood cells, or leukocytes, are important components of the immune system that aid in the body’s defense against infections.

Generally speaking, a small number of leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy is normal. If the levels are greater than normal, though, it might indicate an infection, like the urinary tract infection (UTI), which is common in pregnant women.

In the event that your test results indicate an elevated leukocyte count, your physician will probably suggest additional testing to determine the reason. As infections can put mother and child at risk, it’s critical to heed their advice and make sure any infections are treated right away.

Purposes of the analysis

Pregnant women undergo a wide range of laboratory tests prescribed by doctors during the childbearing phase. Additionally, urine is inspected. This crucial clinical examination can reveal even the smallest pathologies that have grown within a pregnant woman’s body.

The expectant mother should urinate three times or more during her pregnancy. It is crucial to carry out these studies during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. This is the peak time for kidney and urinary tract pathologies to develop.

• In the first trimester, this study is usually prescribed at each visit to the doctor. In the future, the frequency of this examination changes.
• In the second half of pregnancy, a general urine test should be taken somewhat more often. During the second trimester, specialists recommend taking this test every two weeks.
• At the final stage of pregnancy, a general urine test can be taken almost weekly. It is especially important to conduct such diagnostics for women with serious diseases of the kidneys or urinary organs.

Therapists and obstetrician-gynecologists identify various specific risk groups. Among them are women who have a relatively high chance of developing different internal organ pathologies. Urine should be subjected to a general analysis in order to determine the leukocyte count, which should be more routine.

If there is a significant increase in leukocyte cells in the uric precipitate, this could be a sign that the future mother should see a urologist.

The general urine analysis includes incoming clinical indicators that assist specialists in identifying any deviations from the norm, no matter how slight. This enables them to recognize diseases at the earliest stages of development and, as a result, to promptly take the required action.

Normal indicators

It is physiologically normal for urine precipitation to contain leukocytes. This suggests that local immunity is taking effect. Pregnant women who are already in the latter stages of childbearing frequently have elevated leukocyte counts in their urine sediment.

Regular lab analyzers count the leukocyte cells within the field of view under examination. This value normally shouldn’t go above six uniform elements.

Elevated leukocyte count in urine sediment – a major indication for further testing at all times. Usually, in this situation, supplementary testing is advised. The Nechiporenko urine test is the most commonly used of them. In this instance, leukocyturia is characterized by a rise in leukocyte counts exceeding 2000 units.

Other urine parameters are also measured during the investigation. Its particular density, color, and homogeneous element content are evaluated.

An abundance of red blood cells in the uric acid is a sign of disease. In this situation, it’s important to rule out a glomerulonephritis flare-up or significant renal tissue damage. The development of this symptom can also be caused by bleeding in the bladder or ureters.

Leukocyte esterase is a relatively recent criterion to be defined. Leukocytes secrete this component. This substance is determined by leukocyte cell death at high concentrations. The indicators of the diagnostics of different pathologies could be greatly improved with the introduction of this indicator.

The presence of an inflammatory process in the renal tissue is indicated by a positive leukocyte esterase analysis result. In this instance, more testing is necessary. It might also be essential to do a kidney ultrasound examination.

Leukocyturia

Leukocyturia is the term for an increase in leukocytes in the urine sediment. Many different factors can contribute to the development of this condition during pregnancy.

Leukocyturia necessitates constant medical monitoring in all cases. As this condition worsens, it may lead to the emergence of harmful pregnancy pathologies.

Physicians differentiate between various clinical forms of leukocyturia:

1. An increase in leukocytes in the urinary sediment to 15 indicates a minor process. In this case, the degree of severity of the inflammatory process is usually moderate.
2. An increase in leukocytes above 40 indicates an increase in inflammation and an aggravation of the process. This pathology, as a rule, is also accompanied by an increase in leukocyte cells in the blood – leukocytosis.

Causes of an increased content of leukocytes in urine

Based on statistical data, a number of disorders affecting the kidneys and other urinary organs can cause a high concentration of leukocyte cells to appear in the urine.

Inflammation of the bladder

Pregnant women experiencing leukocyturia are primarily affected by pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, or cystitis. These illnesses frequently manifest in women even prior to childbearing.

Leukocytes in large quantities in the urine can also be a common result of bladder inflammation, or cystitis. There are two types of this pathology: acute and chronic.

Most of the time, the illness is accompanied by a multitude of adverse symptoms in addition to the development of leukocyturia.

Urine stagnation

Stasis is the main cause of a high concentration of leukocytes to appear in the urine. Reversible urine flow from the ureters to the kidney may result from them. We refer to this condition as pathological reflux.

Stagnation can arise from various reasons:

• Compression of the uterus of the urinary system organs, which are located retroperitoneally. This condition is quite often manifested in slender women with a narrow structure of the pelvic bones.
• Changed hormonal background, which develops during the bearing of a baby. This process is a natural physiological reaction of the fetus due to its active growth and development.
• Low physical activity, especially in the last weeks of bearing a baby. Such hypodynamia leads to weight gain and a decrease in good muscle tone. All these factors contribute to the development of severe congestion in the pelvis.

Pathogenic microorganisms

Numerous diseases that result in leukocyturia are triggered by different pathogenic microorganisms. It should be mentioned that extreme urinary tract congestion precedes their rapid growth and development. The rate of bacterial colony growth is fairly rapid.

Pregnant women with diseases of the reproductive or urinary tract frequently harbor a high concentration of pathogenic microbes. They include different kinds of gonococci, chlamydia, E. coli, staphylococci, and streptococci, among other microorganisms.

Decreased immunity

A decrease in immunity combined with the influence of specific provoking factors results in the appearance of a large number of leukocytes in the urine. For instance, leukocyte cells may show up in the urine sediment as a result of extreme hypothermia. If the pelvic or lumbar regions are extremely cold, it is particularly unfavorable. In this instance, there is an increased risk of internal genital organ damage in addition to the exacerbation of kidney or urinary tract diseases.

It is noteworthy that moderate leukocyturia can also result from banal candidiasis. Candida fungi, which grow on the organs of the external genitalia, are the cause of this condition in this instance.

Candidasis develops as a result of the fungal flora growing due to a decrease in immunity that happens during pregnancy. Leukocyte counts in the urine in this instance may range from 8 to 20 units within the field of view.

Leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy can be a sign of a number of possible problems, from benign changes to more serious illnesses like preeclampsia or urinary tract infections. It’s critical to keep a close eye on these levels because an increase could indicate the need for additional medical testing. It is essential to speak with a healthcare professional if elevated leukocyte levels are found in order to identify the underlying cause and make sure the right course of action is taken to protect the health of the mother and fetus.

How to suspect?

Leukocyte identification is quite challenging without specialized lab equipment. Special test strips are available now that can identify a number of fundamental markers in urine. Pharmacies sell them for purchase.

The purpose of these test strips is to check for leukocyturia. Under no circumstances should an at-home urine study be used in place of a standard laboratory urine test.

There is another way to suspect that there are more leukocytes than normal. Urine discharged from leukocyturia can occasionally become cloudy. It is typically transparent and straw-yellow in color. Leukocyturia may show up as a white sediment or impurity.

When one of these undesirable symptoms appears, it should be a good idea to visit the lab.

The most common way that leukocyturia, which is caused by diseases of the excretory system, presents itself is with lumbar discomfort. Usually, the pain syndrome is mild to moderate in severity. Often, the pain radiates to the lower abdomen and groin. The pain might get worse when you move your body.

Only one side of the body will experience pain if only one kidney or ureter is impacted. When the woman turns to face the sore side, the pain gets worse. Sometimes the pain might be intolerable. It might be necessary to hospitalize someone in emergency in this case.

If the expectant mother experiences a sudden increase in body temperature in addition to cloudy urine and lower back pain, this could be a sign of the beginning of kidney tissue inflammation. In this situation, a quick trip to the doctor is necessary.

This is the typical presentation of an exacerbation of pyelonephritis. This disease during pregnancy may pose a risk to the life of the unborn child growing inside the mother.

Another relatively common symptom of leukocyturia is frequent urination. Urine typically gets smaller in volume over time. A woman may experience pain or burning when she urinates. Urinating a lot happens mostly at night.

Question	Answer
Should there be leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy?	A small number of leukocytes in the urine is normal during pregnancy, as the body’s immune system is active. However, high levels can indicate an infection or other issues.
What to do if leukocytes are increased?	If the level of leukocytes is high, it"s important to consult your doctor. They may run additional tests to check for infections or other health concerns and suggest treatment if needed.

If the leukocyte counts are within a normal range, finding them in the urine during pregnancy may be considered normal. If the count is noticeably higher, though, it might indicate an infection or other health issues that need to be addressed.

Seeking further medical attention from a healthcare professional is crucial if the test results indicate an elevated leukocyte count. In order to identify the cause, they might suggest additional testing and, if required, recommend a course of action. It is possible to avoid complications for the mother and the child by seeking early intervention.

The three most important things to remember to ensure urinary health during pregnancy are to practice good hygiene, stay hydrated, and schedule routine prenatal checkups. This enables prompt care, if necessary, and aids in the early detection of any possible problems.

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