Differential Diagnosis for Clots in Urine

• Single most likely diagnosis
  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or Pyelonephritis: This is often the most common cause of clots in urine, especially in women. The infection can cause inflammation and bleeding in the urinary tract, leading to the presence of clots.
• Other Likely diagnoses
  • Kidney Stones: Stones in the kidney or bladder can cause bleeding and lead to clots in the urine. The stones can irritate the urinary tract lining, causing bleeding.
  • Bladder Cancer: Cancer of the bladder can cause bleeding, which may appear as clots in the urine. This is more common in older adults and those with a history of smoking.
  • Prostate Cancer: In men, prostate cancer can cause bleeding and clots in the urine, especially if the cancer has advanced.
• Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
  • Sepsis: While not directly causing clots, sepsis from a urinary tract infection can lead to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which can cause clotting abnormalities, including clots in the urine.
  • Renal Vein Thrombosis: This is a blood clot that forms in the veins that carry blood from the kidneys back to the heart. It's more common in patients with nephrotic syndrome or other kidney diseases and can be life-threatening.
• Rare diagnoses
  • Nephrotic Syndrome: This condition, characterized by excessive loss of protein in the urine, can increase the risk of blood clots, including those appearing in the urine.
  • Goodpasture Syndrome: A rare autoimmune disease that can cause bleeding in the lungs and kidneys, leading to clots in the urine.
  • Thrombocytopenia or Coagulopathy: Certain bleeding disorders can increase the risk of clotting in the urinary tract, though this is less common than other causes.