Ketones - Urine
Alternate Names : Ketone Bodies - Urine, Urine Ketones: Acetone, Acetoacetic Acid, and Beta-Hydroxybutyric Acid
Definition A test that measures the presence or absence of ketones in the urine.
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Why is the Test Performed?
Ketones (beta-hydroxybutyric acid, acetoacetic acid, and acetone) are the end-product of rapid or excessive fatty acid breakdown. As with glucose, ketones are present in the urine when the blood levels surpass a certain threshold. Fatty acid release from adipose tissue is stimulated by a number of hormones including glucagon, epinephrine, and growth hormone. The levels of these hormones are increased in starvation (whether related to excess alcohol use or not), uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, and a number of other conditions.
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