Kidney Involvement

[Shannon]

For the past five year my Wegener's has not affected my kidneys, mostly my lungs and sinuses. I just went back to my family doctor today and was diagnosed with my 4th bladder infection in as many months. She ordered Cipro, again, and said that I need to come back in ten days for another urinalysis. If it comes back positive she wants me to see my specialist. The urinalysis she ran is only positive for white blood cells, no protein or red blood cells so I don't think it is WG related but she seemed pretty concerned because of the number of times this has happened in four months, that I take Bactrim which should have prevented a bladder infection, and that each and every urinalysis is the same with the white blood cells no matter what she prescribes.

Can anyone tell me if this sounds consistent with WG? The websites I checked today said red blood cells and protein were pretty common when the kidneys were starting to get involved, no mention of white blood cells.

Thanks for any advice!
Shannon

[RudiK]

Hello Shannon, when I was diagnosed with WG in early April, my urine analysis showed 0-5 white blood cells, 10-15 red blood cells, protein 2+. The WG severally damaged my kidneys, they operate at 40%, but it did not impact my lungs.
Good luck.
Rudi K.

[Sangye]

That isn't consistent with Wegs involvement in the kidney or bladder, but it is concerning. If it were my body I'd be booking it to a holistic doctor. Taking endless antibiotics is damaging to the body.

[aewaustin]

I have kidney involvement, always have, and we just watch for blood and protein in the UA's. Does not sound like weg's to me either...

[Al]

Shannon--

This doesn't sound lie WG to me either, though there could be a connection: Nasty things can infect the bladder that can migrate to the kidneys, and then you have a big problem, especially if your body produces ANCA in response to an infection. Absolute white blood cell count doesn't tell much about WG, though it will go down if you are on immunosupressors. Kidney distress is usually indicated by protein or blood in the urine, and serum creatinine clearance.

Al