Urinalysis in liver disease

The urinanalysis results in three classes of liver disease are presented:

• obstructive jaundice:
  • urine is initially dark orange but may become green as the jaundice deepens
  • positive for bilirubin
  • negative for urobilinogen in complete cholestasis
    
    
• haemolytic jaundice:
  • urine normal colour but may darken on standing
  • negative for bilirubin
  • positive for urobilinogen
    
    
• compensated hepatic cirrhosis:
  • negative for bilirubin
  • may be positive for urobilinogen because the failing liver does not adequately metabolize the normal quantity of re-absorbed urobilinogen