What is Leukocyte Esterase Urine?

Leukocyte Esterase is a test used to detect a substance that suggests there are white blood cells in the urine. If the test is positive, the urine should be examined under a microscope for white blood cells and other signs that point to an urinary tract infection (UTI).

Causes

Leukocytes might be present in urine for a range of reasons.

• Bladder infections or irritation
• Kidney stones
• Kidney infection
• Urinary system blockage
• Pregnancy
• Holding in urine
• Some cancers such as prostate, bladder, or kidney cancer
• Blood diseases such as sickle cell anemia
• Some pain medicines and blood thinners
• Strenuous or excessive exercise.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person, but there are a few signs that suggest leukocytes may be present in the urine:

• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Urinating more often than normal
• Pain or a burning sensation when urinating
• Blood in the urine are also signs.
• Shivering and fever
• Upper back and side pain
• Stomach pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Long-term pelvic pain
• Pain during intercourse

Treatment

A doctor should handle any treatment options. Treatment for leukocytes in the urine depends on the cause of the infection. In cases such as with a urinary tract infection, antibiotics will clear up the infection relatively quickly. In some cases, such as with urinary tract and kidney infections, lifestyle changes can help. These include:

• drinking more water
• cutting down on sugary drinks

Results can have many interpretations. Abnormal findings are a warning that something may be wrong and should be evaluated further.

A healthcare practitioner must correlate the urinalysis results with a person’s symptoms and clinical findings and search for the causes of abnormal findings with other targeted tests, such as a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), complete blood count (CBC), renal panel, liver panel, or urine culture (for urinary tract infection).