Protein in urine – causes, symptoms and treatment

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Routine urine tests allow you to visualize the functioning of the entire body, especially the urinary system. During the analysis performed in the laboratory, several components are or may be found in the urine. Their presence may indicate irregularities and many diseases. These include protein in the urine. What are the symptoms and what does it show?

What is urine and how is it formed?

Urine, otherwise known as urine, is a fluid produced in the kidneys. This fluid is excreted from the body and contains metabolic remains that are useless and harmful to the body.

During the day, a healthy person excretes about 600-2500 ml of urine. The amount of urine excreted depends on many factors, including the ambient temperature, the amount of fluid consumed, and any existing medical conditions.

The vast majority of urine consists of water, which makes up 96% of this fluid. Other components of urine are nitrogenous metabolic waste products such as ureas, as well as minerals and other substances that give urine its distinctive color, smell and taste.

Nutrients such as sugars, proteins, red blood cells, white blood cells or bacteria should not be present in the urine of a healthy person. If any of these are observed in the urine, it is likely a harbinger of a developing condition in the body.

The urine formation process can be divided into several stages. At the beginning, the renal artery is supplied with blood with urea, excess water and other substances unnecessary for the body. Blood transported in this way enters the cortical layer of the glomeruli, where the blood is filtered.

In the renal tubules, valuable substances such as vitamins, minerals and glucose are absorbed from the urine into the blood. Final urine flows from the renal tubules, which in turn flows into the collecting tubules. The urine then flows from the renal pelvis into the ureters. The urine flows through the ureters into the bladder. From there, urine is passed out of the body through the urethra.

People particularly exposed to problems related to the urinary system should prophylactically take the Urinary tract infection test strip available on Medonet Market. It allows you to diagnose the presence of blood, protein or nitrite in the urine.

What urine pH is normal and when can the condition be diagnosed? Check: Urine Ph – what does its amount mean?

What is proteinuria?

As has already been established, protein should not be present in the urine of a healthy person. So what is proteinuria? Proteinuria is a condition in which too high a protein concentration in the urine is diagnosed. Protein in urine very often does not show any visible symptoms, so this condition is usually diagnosed very late. Proteinuria can be classified according to the amount of protein excreted or according to origin.

Types of proteinuria due to the amount of protein excreted:

1. negligible proteinuria – less than 500 mg per day;
2. mediocre proteinuria – from 500 to 3500 mg per day;
3. significant proteinuria – more than 3500 mg a day.

Types of proteinuria by origin:

1. glomerular proteinuria – this is a type of proteinuria which results from the filtration of proteins in the glomeruli. This process is a consequence of increased glomerular filtration. Filtration is usually caused by damage to the filter membrane where the electronegative barrier of the basement membrane is broken. This type of proteinuria is the most common condition in people with diabetic kidney disease or glomerulonephritis. Glomerular proteinuria is divided into selective and non-selective;
2. tubular proteinuria – this type of proteinuria is caused by reducing the reabsorption of small molecule proteins in the nephron tube. In this case, the function and function of the glomerular barrier are preserved. This type of proteinuria usually occurs as a concomitant disease of interstitial-tubular nephropathy or in cases of nephron toxicity;
3. glomerulurethral proteinuria – this type of proteinuria is the result of both mechanisms described above. Glomerular tubular proteinuria occurs in advanced stages of kidney disease;
4. prerenal proteinuria – this type of proteinuria is caused by the filtration of proteins from the plasma into the urine. Prerenal proteinuria causes kidney damage and precedes glomerular proteinuria;
5. functional proteinuria – this is a type of proteinuria that occurs during the course of a fever or when you stand for too long. It can also occur after intense physical exertion or in stressful situations, but then it is a transient condition and does not result from kidney dysfunction;
6. atrophic-secretory proteinuria – it is a type of proteinuria that results from the increased amount of proteins physiologically secreted by the coils.

What can transparent urine show? Check: Clear urine – what can it mean?

Abnormal kidney function and protein in urine

The kidneys play a very important role in our body. They are responsible for filtering the blood flowing through them and removing toxins from the body. In addition, they are responsible for the secretion of hormones and the production of red blood cells. So if the kidneys start to malfunction, the dysfunction gradually begins to affect the entire body.

Unfortunately, abnormalities in the work of the kidneys do not give noticeable symptoms. Therefore, patients with kidney disease often report to their doctor too late to start any treatment. One way to check the condition of your kidneys and how they are working is to do a routine urinalysis. One of the parameters that can be used to diagnose kidney disease is protein in the urine.

What are the most common kidney diseases? What is worth knowing about these conditions? Check: What are kidney diseases and how do they manifest themselves?

Protein in urine – symptoms

In the first stages, proteinuria, the condition where the diagnosis of protein in the urine is diagnosed, shows no obvious symptoms. In people with more protein in their urine, this body fluid becomes more foamy. Additionally, it may be accompanied by external symptoms such as swelling of the feet and hands, face and also the abdomen. Blood pressure may also be higher than usual.

What does cloudy urine mean? Check: What causes cloudy urine?

Protein in urine – causes

Proteinuria most often results from glomerulonephritis. As for protein in the urine, the norm is 150 mg per day. If this value is exceeded, it usually indicates kidney problems. In turn, its doubling may be associated with chronic kidney disease.

In addition, the presence of protein in the urine can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, such as:

1. sickle cell anemia,
2. hypertension,
3. diabetes
4. syphilis
5. viral hepatitis,
6. lupus,
7. leukemia
8. HIV infection,
9. hypoglikemię,
10. rheumatoid arthritis.
11. nephrotic syndromes
12. eclampsia
13. toxic kidney damage
14. systemic diseases (e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus)
15. dehydration
16. IgA nephropathy
17. IgM nephropathy

It also happens that proteinuria is associated with a seemingly trivial cause, such as strenuous exercise or a fever. Protein in urine during pregnancy tends to be elevated in women – this is perfectly normal.

The list of diseases that can contribute to the occurrence of protein in the urine is very long.

What can be a symptom of nitrite in the urine? Check: Nitrite in urine – causes and treatment

Protein in urine – treatment

When it comes to treating proteinuria, the underlying cause must be considered. When protein is present in a urine sample in several consecutive tests, it is most often associated with a person’s underlying medical conditions.

In this case, causal treatment aimed at specific diseases is used (such as drugs that lower blood pressure in case of hypertension or blood transfusion and antibiotic therapy in the case of sickle cell anemia).

How is a urine test done and how to do it? Check: Urine tests – how much do they cost and where to do them?

Protein in urine – prognosis

It happens that the presence of protein in the urine is associated with chronic diseases. Then you have to take into account the fact that you will have to take medication even for the rest of your life to eliminate the problem of the presence of protein in the excreted urine.

What can I find out about my urine color? Check: What changes in the body does the color of urine signal?

Protein in urine – prophylaxis

It is possible minimize the risk of protein in urine. The key is urinary hygiene, regular physical activity and a proper diet.

It should limit protein-rich products, such as dairy products, meat, fish and legumes. However, you should not give them up completely, so as not to lead to malnutrition. In order to choose a diet appropriately adapted to your body, it is worth going to a dietitian who – taking into account a number of factors such as age, sex, activity, past diseases and the general condition of the body – will adapt it to your current needs.

At Medonet Market you can buy General mail order urinalysis – 10 urine parameters. You can make them yourself at home and check if there is protein in the urine.

What is dark urine as a symptom? Check: What does dark urine mean? What diseases can it indicate?

Protein in the urine of pregnancy

Pregnant women very often find out about the protein in urine during the obligatory diagnostics. This condition is completely normal during pregnancy and does not pose a threat to the health and life of the mother and baby. The norm of protein in the urine in pregnancy is 300 mg.

However, every pregnant woman should constantly monitor the level of protein in the urine, because too much of it may indicate kidney disorders, urinary tract infections or even poisoning. It is worth mentioning that in women, not only pregnant women, excessive levels of protein in the urine are often associated with vaginal infections and accompany vaginal discharge.

Learn more about protein in urine during pregnancy in this article: Protein in urine during pregnancy – causes and prevention

Protein in the urine of a child

Children are much more likely to get various infections, so it is advisable to check the level of protein in the urine at least once every two years. Symptoms that should prompt parents to make a diagnosis and visit a doctor with a child are: oliguria, pollakiuria, recurrent urinary tract infections, high fever or frequent abdominal pain.

Why does the baby wet at night? Check: Your child is 5 years old and is still wet? It needs to be explored!

Protein in the urine of men

The high concentration of protein in the urine, which is diagnosed in men, does not always indicate problems with the functioning of the kidneys. Proteinuria can be a symptom of the prostate, especially when it occurs in men over 40.

If an increased amount of protein in the urine is found, the patient should repeat the test, and then consult a urologist who will order an ultrasound of the prostate and determine the level of PSA markers.

What should you know about urinary incontinence? Check: Incontinence, or urinary incontinence – causes, types, methods of treatment

Protein and sugar in urine – what could they mean?

It is not uncommon for a urine test to show the simultaneous presence of sugar and protein. Is this a cause for concern? Not necessarily. If the test was performed by a pregnant woman and the protein level did not exceed 300 mg per day, you should not worry. During pregnancy, proteinuria and mild glucosuria may occur.

For other patients, the combination of protein and sugar in the urine is a possible sign of nephropathy. Nephropathy can be caused by Chinese slimming herbs or interstitial nephritis, which in turn is caused by taking antibiotics, acne medications, diuretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

What can red blood cells testify to? Check: Erythrocytes in urine – is there anything to be concerned about?