Question

A patient is asked to collect a urine specimen at home by their primary care physician....

A patient is asked to collect a urine specimen at home by their primary care physician. They collect the urine, but get side tracked and forget to put the cap on the cup. Several hours later, after the urine has sat exposed to air for some time, the patient comes back and is shocked to find their urine has turned black!

What could be the underlying cause of the dark urine?

Homework Answers

Answer #1

Dark urine is the result of a mutation in enzyme homogentisate oxidase. Homogentisate oxidase breaks down phenylalanine and tyrosine. Due to the mutation, homogentisic acid starts accumulating in the body. Due to its accumulation, homogentisic acid is excreted out of the body through urine. homogentisic acid, when exposed to air, turned into dark coloured, that result in dark color urine when exposed to air.

So, the cause of the dark urine is mutation in the homogentisate oxidase gene.

Please write to me if you need more help.

Know the answer?
Your Answer:

Post as a guest

Your Name:

What's your source?

Earn Coins

Coins can be redeemed for fabulous gifts.

Not the answer you're looking for?
Ask your own homework help question
Similar Questions
Mr. B, a 70-year-old male client, presented to his primary care physician with complaints of blurred...
Mr. B, a 70-year-old male client, presented to his primary care physician with complaints of blurred vision and headaches over the last two months. On several visits, Mr. B's blood pressure was found to be elevated, so the physician started him on hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg by mouth daily. One month later, Mr. B began to have chest pains and shortness of breath, so his primary care provider referred Mr. B to a cardiologist for further evaluation. The cardiologist ordered an...
Mr. B, a 70-year-old male client, presented to his primary care physician with complaints of blurred...
Mr. B, a 70-year-old male client, presented to his primary care physician with complaints of blurred vision and headaches over the last two months. On several visits, Mr. B's blood pressure was found to be elevated, so the physician started him on hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg by mouth daily. One month later, Mr. B began to have chest pains and shortness of breath, so his primary care provider referred Mr. B to a cardiologist for further evaluation. The cardiologist ordered an...
The patient is a 70-year-old female who was a former office employee of her primary care...
The patient is a 70-year-old female who was a former office employee of her primary care physician. She had called the doctor's office three days prior to admission complaining of general weakness and nausea, and, according to her niece who checked in on her every few days, was apparently not able to get around her house very well. The physician advised her to come to the office, and she agreed but did not show up. The patient had often been...
The patient is a 70-year-old female who was a former office employee of her primary care...
The patient is a 70-year-old female who was a former office employee of her primary care physician. She had called the doctor's office three days prior to admission complaining of general weakness and nausea, and, according to her niece who checked in on her every few days, was apparently not able to get around her house very well. The physician advised her to come to the office, and she agreed but did not show up. The patient had often been...
Nursing Care Plan Assignment (1,2&3) Case Study Linda Shaw is a 56-year-old female who was brought...
Nursing Care Plan Assignment (1,2&3) Case Study Linda Shaw is a 56-year-old female who was brought to the hospital by EMS on December 23, 2019. She presented to the emergency department with complaints of shortness of breath. She has had a productive cough for 3 days with a fever. She is admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and septicemia. She has a history of cellulitis, iron deficiency, high cholesterol and hypertension. She has an allergy to penicillin and vancomycin. She...