Differential Diagnosis for Urine that Turns Dark in the Morning
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Dehydration: This is the most common reason for dark urine, especially in the morning. When the body is dehydrated, it concentrates the urine to conserve water, resulting in a darker color.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Concentrated urine due to low fluid intake: Similar to dehydration, not drinking enough fluids can lead to concentrated, darker urine.
- Urinary tract infection (UTI): Some UTIs can cause changes in urine color, including darker urine.
- Liver disease: Certain liver conditions can cause changes in urine color due to the buildup of bilirubin.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Rhabdomyolysis: A serious condition where muscle tissue breaks down, releasing myoglobin into the urine, which can cause it to turn dark.
- Hematuria due to kidney stones or cancer: Blood in the urine can cause it to appear dark, and underlying conditions like kidney stones or cancer need to be ruled out.
- Rare diagnoses
- Alkaptonuria: A rare genetic disorder that affects the breakdown of certain amino acids, leading to dark urine.
- Melanuria: A condition where melanin is present in the urine, causing it to turn dark.
- Porphyria: A group of rare genetic disorders that can cause changes in urine color, including dark urine.