HAEMATURIA IN PATIENTS WITH HAEMOPHILIA

Background A review article intends to discover a cause, frequency, treatment and complications of haematuria in patients with haemophilia. Methods A review of PubMed (1969-2007) for key words haemophilia, haematuria and renal disease. Results Four studies were published: two in Great Britain (1971 and 1982), one in USA (2003) and one in Slovenia (2007). Conclusions The authors of first two studies concluded that history of haematuria in haemophilia is probably benign and does not lead to progressive renal failure. The general belief that renal disease is a rare complication of haemophilia is challenged by the Kulkarni's report. He found in 2.9% of patients with haemophilia either acute or chronic renal disease but the design of this study lacks many important clinical details. Slovenian study showed that even repetitive episodes of haematuria do not lead to renal damage. Therefore complex renal function tests only for haematuria are not required.