Maltese Cross Sign Urine

Lipid droplets that may be seen in the urine particularly from patients with glomerular disease and heavy proteinuria can act as liquid crystals and show a distinctive form on polarizing microsco.

Maltese cross sign urine. Oval fat bodies exhibit a maltese cross configuration under polarized light microscopy. It is a heraldic cross variant which developed from earlier forms of eight pointed crosses in the 16th century. They are pathognomonic for high urinary protein nephrotic syndrome. Round particles producing birefringent maltese crosses under polarized light are commonly seen in the urinary sediment of patients with a nephrotic syndrome.

Although chiefly associated with the knights hospitaller order of st. Fatty casts formed by the breakdown of lipid rich epithelial cells these are hyaline casts with fat globule inclusions yellowish tan in color. When lipiduria occurs epithelial cells or macrophages contain endogenous fats. The appearance of the maltese crosses is due to the birefringence of lipid droplets which consist mainly of cholesterol esters.

Maltese cross appearance a term of art referring to a light microscopic appearance of a crystal or crystalloid structure which is likened to a maltese cross which may correspond to granules of talc or cholesterol or bacteria. If cholesterol or cholesterol esters are present they are associated with the maltese cross sign under polarized light. The maltese cross is a cross symbol consisting of four v or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles two tips pointing outward symmetrically. John now the.

When filled with numerous fat droplets such cells are called oval fat bodies. The appearance of the maltese crosses is due to the birefringence of lipid droplets which consist mainly of cholesterol esters.