Loin Pain-Hematuria Syndrome
Loin pain hematuria syndrome (LPHS) is the combination of debilitating unilateral or bilateral flank pain and microscopic or macroscopic amounts of blood in the urine that is otherwise unexplained. The major causes of flank pain and hematuria, such as nephrolithiasis and blood clot, are typically not present. Loin pain hematuria syndrome (LPHS) causes severe, unexplained loin pain and blood in the urine (hematuria). The pain can be on one side of body or both sides. The frequency and length of pain episodes can vary. The blood may be easily seen in the urine or may only be seen under a microscope.
Symptoms
- Affects people differently
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Loin pain: the pain is often described as a burning or throbbing and for some can worsen with exercise or when lying down flat on their back (facing upward).
- Low-grade fever (up to 101°F)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain may be felt on one side of the body (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral).
- Painful urination
Treatments
- At this time, there is no disease-specific treatment or cure for loin pain hematuria syndrome (LPHS)
- Avoid activities that increase or trigger their pain, such as exercise, riding in a car, or lying on their back
- Changes in diet.
- Kidney auto-transplantation
- Medications to treat nausea and vomiting
- Narcotics
- Nephrectomy
- Nerve block
- Neuromodulation
- Non-opioid pain pills (analgesics)
- Renal denervation
- Surgical treatment of LPHS is controversial as some studies suggest that it has limited value for treating the recurrent pain and the possible complications of the procedures may outweigh the benefits
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
