The presence of hyaline casts in a urine sample most commonly suggests:
A Chronic glomerulonephritis
B Dehydration or vigorous exercise
C Urinary tract infection
D Acute pyelonephritis
Solution
Correct Answer: Option B
- Hyaline casts are composed mainly of Tamm-Horsfall protein secreted by tubular epithelial cells.
- They commonly appear in urine after dehydration or vigorous exercise due to concentrated urine and low flow, which favors cast formation.
- These casts are nonspecific and often seen in healthy individuals.
- In contrast, pathological conditions like glomerulonephritis or infections usually produce granular, red cell, or white cell casts, not predominantly hyaline casts.