Etymed
ketonuria
Definition
the presence of ketone bodies in the urine, typically indicating abnormal metabolism or diabetes
Clinical context
A 28-year-old female presents to the emergency department with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. She has a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus but has been unable to tolerate oral intake for the past 24 hours. Urinalysis reveals significant ketonuria with blood glucose of 450 mg/dL. Her arterial blood gas shows metabolic acidosis. The patient is diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis. Laboratory studies confirm the presence of ketone bodies in her urine, indicating abnormal fat metabolism due to insulin deficiency.
Mnemonic
KETONES - Keep Them Out of Urine (Ketone bodies in urine indicates abnormal metabolism/diabetes)