Normal Values:

There are different types of casts. The presence of a few hyaline casts is normal.

What abnormal results mean:

Abnormal results may include:

• Fatty casts are seen in people who have lipids in urine, usually as a complication of nephrotic syndrome.
• Granular casts are a sign of underlying kidney disease. However, they are nonspecific and may be found in people with many different kidney disorders.
• Hyaline casts are usually caused by dehydration, exercise, or diuretic medicines.
• Red blood cell casts are a sign of bleeding into the kidney tubule. They are seen in many diseases affecting the glomerulus, including IgA nephropathy, lupus nephritis, Goodpasture syndrome, and Wegener's granulomatosis.
• Renal tubular epithelial cell casts reflect damage to the tubules. They are seen in renal tubular necrosis, viral disease (such as CMV nephritis), and transplant rejection.
• Waxy casts are associated with advanced kidney disease and chronic kidney failure.
• White blood cell (WBC) casts are more common in interstitial cell kidney diseases such as interstitial inflammation, pyelonephritis, and parenchymal infection.

This test may also show:

• Acute nephritic syndrome
• Glomerulonephritis - chronic
• Glomerulonephritis - post-streptococcal
• Glomerulonephritis - rapidly progressive
• Complicated urinary tract infection
• Necrotizing vasculitis
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Primary amyloid
• Secondary amyloid
• Systemic lupus erythematosus