Very unusual "needle- and pencil-like" uric acid crystals in the urine unmasked by infrared spectroscopy investigation

Clin Chim Acta. 2018 Apr:479:72-73. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2018.01.018. Epub 2018 Jan 11.

Abstract

In this paper we describe a case with very unusual "needle- and pencil-like" crystals, partly similar to those reported by other investigators, who considered them as due to uric acid. Quite importantly, infrared spectroscopy investigation which, to our knowledge, we have been the first to perform on this type of crystals, confirmed their nature as uric acid structures. This case demonstrates that the planet of urinary crystals still has several unknown facets and still deserves exploration.

Keywords: Urinalysis; Urinary crystals; Urinary sediment; Urinary uric acid crystals.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization
  • Humans
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared
  • Uric Acid / chemistry*
  • Uric Acid / urine*
  • Urinary Calculi / chemistry*
  • Urinary Calculi / urine*

Substances

  • Uric Acid