All urological standards of care are based on the past definition of the clinical importance of macroscopic
hematuria. The aim of the study was to assess the phenomenon of iatrogenic
hematuria in current clinical practice and analyze its origins in patients receiving
anticoagulant drugs. Retrospective analysis of clinical documentation of 238 patients that were consulted for
hematuria in 2007-2009 by 5 consultant urologists was performed. In the group of 238 patients with
hematuria, 155 (65%) received
anticoagulants. Abnormalities of urinary tract were found in 45 (19%) patients. Estimated cost of a single
neoplasm detection reached the value of 3252 Euro (mean 3-day hospitalization). The strong correlation between the presence of
hematuria and
anticoagulant treatment was observed. Authors suggest to redefine the present and future role of
hematuria from a standard manifestation of serious
urological disease to a common result of a long-term
anticoagulant therapy.