Article Text
Summary
Haemolytic anaemia caused by a paravalvular leak presenting as progressively worsening red urine. Haemoglobinuria was easily mistaken for gross haematuria, resulting in extensive invasive urological investigation that proved to be futile. Further investigation following an emergency admission led to the realisation that intravascular haemolysis secondary to a paravalvular leak—presenting 43 years following metallic valve insertion—was the cause of discoloured urine and newly presenting symptomatic anaemia. This case highlights that there remains other causes of what often appears to be haematuria, and further exploration of alternative causes should be considered when no urological cause is found.
- Hematuria
- Urological surgery
- Cardiothoracic surgery
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Footnotes
Contributors SM: collecting patient information and clinical details, consenting patient, writing case report, reviewing existing literature and following up patient progress. PG: identifying patient as a unique case, advice with planning and reviewing draft report. RI: advice with planning and reviewing draft report.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.