What type of RBC morphology indicates upper urinary tract bleeding?

Dysmorphic red blood cells, particularly acanthocytes, are indicative of upper urinary tract bleeding. This specific morphology often suggests that the blood has undergone some form of alteration as it passes through the renal tubules. In the upper urinary tract, conditions such as glomerulonephritis and severe renal injury can lead to the breakdown or alteration of red blood cells as they are filtered through the kidneys.

When blood enters the urinary system from the upper tract, these dysmorphic cells are produced due to the mechanical trauma or distortions caused in the renal environment. Acanthocytes, which are characterized by their irregular shapes and spikey projections, reflect such morphological changes often associated with pathologies affecting the kidneys and upper urinary system.

In contrast, other types of red blood cell morphologies, such as normocytic, spherocytes, and target cells, do not specifically indicate upper urinary tract bleeding. Normocytic cells appear normal in size and shape and do not suggest any particular pathology associated with the urinary tract. Spherocytes are typically seen in conditions like hemolytic anemia, while target cells are often associated with liver disease and some hemoglobinopathies. Therefore, in the context of identifying RBC morphology related to upper urinary tract