Which urine finding is indicative of glomerular disease?

The presence of casts in urine is a significant finding that indicates glomerular disease. Casts are cylindrical structures that can form in the renal tubules when certain substances, such as proteins or cells, aggregate. They are formed from the accumulation of proteins, red blood cells, white blood cells, or epithelial cells that accumulate and mold into the shape of the tubule through which they pass.

In glomerular diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, there can be damage to the glomeruli that leads to protein leakage and changes in the composition of urine. The types of casts found can provide further insight into the specific nature of the glomerular disease; for instance, red blood cell casts suggest glomerular bleeding, while tubular casts may indicate tubular injury.

The other findings mentioned, such as trace proteinuria, normal pH, and the presence of glucose, do not specifically indicate glomerular disease. Trace proteinuria can occur in a variety of conditions, normal urine pH is a common finding and does not indicate kidney dysfunction, and glucose presence typically suggests conditions like diabetes rather than glomerular damage. Therefore, the identification of casts is a more definitive marker pointing to glomerular involvement in the renal pathology.