Treason / 20.09.2020

Protein in urine is positive. “What does the presence of protein in urine mean? The norm and dangers of high protein”

Increased protein in urine - what does it mean? Many patients immediately assume that they have kidney disease and go for examination, but according to the results, their kidneys may be healthy.

Oddly enough, excessive protein secretion can be observed in many different diseases, as well as in ordinary conditions that are relatively normal for the human body and do not require treatment. A specialist should help you understand exactly why protein levels have increased.

In this article we will talk about possible reasons, according to which protein appears in the urine, we will find out what symptoms are characteristic of this condition, and also get acquainted with the methods by which this deviation from the norm can be detected.

Proteinuria is a medical term that means an increase in the concentration of protein in the urine. Normally, when taking tests there should be no protein, but an error in a very small amount is allowed, up to 0.033 g/l.

The kidneys perform many different functions:

removal of water and metabolic products;
regulation of ionic and acid-base balance;
hormone synthesis, intermediate metabolism.

One of the most important mechanisms is urine formation. Glomerular and glomerular filtration are the main processes from which ultrafiltration is formed. During ultrafiltration, primary urine is formed.

With glomerular defects, protein molecules cannot be retained by the basement membrane and penetrate into the primary urine, and therefore an increased level of protein in the urine may be observed. Normally, protein molecules have too large size, in order to easily penetrate through the pores.

If protein in the urine is increased, the reasons may be physiological or pathological. Physiological causes are observed in absolutely healthy people; over time, the protein returns to normal, and most often no treatment is required.

The reasons are:

Physical activity and stressful situations can lead to the release of small amounts of protein, resulting in temporary proteinuria.
The reasons for the increase in protein in the urine are associated with eating a large amount of protein food (eggs, some types of meat, dairy products) the day before.
Pregnancy on later may be accompanied by proteinuria. Most often this occurs due to mechanical compression of the kidneys due to fetal growth.
Medical manipulations, for example, active palpation of the kidneys through the anterior abdominal wall or Charcot's shower can lead to a temporary increase in protein in the urine.
Hypothermia and colds (ARVI, flu) can provoke an increased level of protein in the urine of a child or an adult.
Errors in collecting urine for analysis, namely the absence or insufficiently thorough hygiene procedures before collection, lead to the fact that the results reveal high protein in the urine of a child or adult.

Pathological causes are associated with diseases of both the kidneys and other organs and body systems, and can be as follows:

Glomerulonephritis – infectious disease, during which the tissue structures of the kidney vessels are affected, resulting in their functional failure (impairment in the formation of urine and the removal of toxins). During the acute stage of this disease, leukocytes and protein in the urine are increased, in addition, other disturbances are observed: changes in density and color, reduced volume of urine excreted.
If high protein is detected in the urine, the reasons are: existing types urolithiasis. It is worth noting that proteinuria due to stones in different parts of the urinary system is quite rare. More typical is the detection of leukocytes in the urine.
Pyelonephritis– characterized by a nonspecific inflammatory process in the tissues of the kidneys and the collecting system. The presence of bacteria, as well as an increased concentration of protein in the urine of a child or adult, is detected in the results of OAM.
If there is increased protein in the urine, this may indicate specific kidney damage. which occurs in patients with diabetes. Another name for this pathology is diabetic nephropathy. Damage to the vessels of the kidneys and the formation of nodular or diffuse glomerulosclerosis occurs, with the possible development of renal failure. Protein release is characteristic of stages 2-4 of diabetic nephropathy.
Prostatitis– acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland in men. Often accompanied by changes in the general urine analysis, namely the presence of a small amount of protein, leukocytes, erythrocytes, and salts.
For malignant kidney tumors there is blood in the urine, there is an increase in protein in the urine; the reasons are associated with a gradual disruption of the normal functioning of the kidneys.
Obesity 3-4 degrees- this is a condition in which the patient’s weight exceeds the recommended norm by 55-100% or more, which means an increase in weight on average twice as much as normal. The appearance of protein in the urine occurs because kidney function is impaired due to excess weight.
Why is there increased protein in the urine? The cause may be hypertension at stages 2-3. Most often, hematuria, cylindruria and proteinuria occur in patients with intercurrent diseases (i.e. those that complicate the course of the underlying disease).
Presence of non-organ-specific autoimmune diseases, like systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma, which affect the connective tissues and blood vessels of the kidneys, which causes an increase in protein in the urine. The functioning of the heart, liver, lungs, and joints is also disrupted, and the serous membranes and skin are affected.
Myeloma– another reason why protein in the urine is increased. This is a malignant disease that affects the hematopoietic system and bones. Kidney damage is typical for most patients. The presence of protein in the urine is observed, cylindruria and a large amount of Betts-Jones protein are characteristic.

Pay attention! In some cases, increased protein in the urine of a child can be observed with long-term use of antibacterial drugs.

Urinalysis technique

Before you find out what causes increased protein in the urine, you need to actually find this very protein. To do this, the doctor writes a referral for a general urine test.

This type of analysis is very informative and is the main diagnostic study in many areas of medicine. Using analysis, you can not only determine the physical properties of urine, but also its composition.

Instructions for preparing for the study include the following recommendations:

The day before collecting biomaterial, limit the consumption of foods that tend to change the color of urine (bright fruits and vegetables, spices, sweets and smoked foods).
Limit the consumption of alcohol, vitamins, dietary supplements and diuretics (including coffee).
If possible, do not visit a bathhouse or sauna the day before, avoid physical activity.
If the patient is taking any medications, it is necessary to notify the doctor about this.
It is prohibited to take a urine test if a cystoscopy was performed less than a week ago.

The sample should not be contaminated with foreign matter, and therefore it is recommended to follow the rules for collecting material:

For the analysis, morning urine is used, which accumulates in the bladder throughout the night.
Before collecting biomaterial, it is necessary to toilet the genital organs. This will avoid unreliable results.
Use sterile, disposable containers that have not previously been in contact with cleaning agents or detergents.
To prevent bacteria from the external genitalia from getting into the sample, it is necessary to flush a little urine into the toilet, and then, without stopping urination, collect about 100-150 ml of urine in a container without touching the skin with the container.
Biomaterial can be stored for no more than 1-2 hours at a temperature of about 5-18С. Material that was stored room temperature is unsuitable for analysis.
Urine bags can be used to collect urine from children in the first year of life. What determines this technique of collecting from a child - the reasons for using bags are simple: collecting material from small children is quite difficult, especially if diapers are regularly used.

Based on the results of the analysis, the following is assessed:

Volume– normally about 100-300 ml, a smaller amount may indicate dehydration or renal failure. An increased amount is possible in case of diabetes mellitus or pyelonephritis.
Color– straw yellow. A change in color occurs in diseases of the liver, kidneys, and the presence of purulent inflammatory processes. Also, the color of the material may change when using various medications and vitamins.
Smell– changes with diabetes mellitus and inflammation in the genitourinary system.
Foaminess– normally absent. A large amount of foam is characteristic of proteinuria, jaundice, stress, diabetes mellitus, some metabolic disorders, etc.
Transparency– normally transparent. Turbidity can be caused by mucus, red blood cells, salts, pus and other inclusions.
Density– 1000-1025 units. An increase in indicators is characteristic of dehydration, and a decrease is characteristic of kidney disease.
Acidity– 5-7.5 pH
Ketone bodies- are a sign of diabetes.
Bilirubin– does not occur normally. Found in urine in liver pathologies.
Protein– should not occur, but the presence of no more than 0.033 g/l is allowed. Depending on the increase in protein levels in the urine, proteinuria is classified into mild (1 g/day), moderate (1-3 g/day) and severe (3 g/day or more).
Blood cells– single ones may be observed in the field of view. An increase in their number indicates kidney disease, intoxication, and autoimmune diseases.
Bacteria– are not detected normally. Their appearance is characteristic of infectious diseases of the urinary tract.
Cylinders– any types of casts are not observed in the urine of a healthy person. Their appearance indicates pathologies of the urinary tract, severe physical activity and stress, viral infections, and hypertension.
Mushrooms– urine analysis indicates a fungal infection of the genitourinary system.
Salts– practically absent. They can be diagnosed with a sudden change in diet, dehydration, intense physical activity and some kidney diseases.

It is worth noting that the price general analysis urine is very low, and in public medical institutions this study is carried out free of charge.

From the photos and videos in this article, we were able to learn about the most common causes of proteinuria, and also looked at the technique of preparing for a general urine test.

Frequently asked questions to the doctor

Unknown reasons

Hello. I gave birth less than a week ago, the baby had a urine test and an increased amount of protein was determined. Tell me, why is there increased protein in a child’s urine?

Good afternoon. This phenomenon occurs among newborns and is not a pathology. This occurs due to the fact that the permeability of the epithelium of the glomeruli and tubules of the kidneys increases, against the background of the hemodynamics of the newborn. If proteinuria persists after the first 7-10 days of a child’s life, it makes sense to consider it pathological.

Many diseases of the urinary system are characterized by the appearance of pathological impurities in the urine, as evidence of inflammatory changes in the urinary tract or kidneys. The most characteristic components of urinary sediment are mucus, white blood cells, red blood cells and protein. Let's consider situations that are characterized by two of them: mucus and protein in the urine.

High protein concentration

Normally, there should be no protein in a urine test. After all, protein in urine is, most often, casts from the kidney tubules. If there are no inflammatory changes in the kidneys or urinary tract, then there is usually no protein in the urine. That is, protein is most often lost due to pathologies of the urinary system. This is the so-called pathological proteinuria.

But there are also conditions when a healthy body loses protein in the urine, for example:

athletes undergoing heavy physical activity, during which the body breaks down not only sugars and fats, but also protein to obtain energy
a similar situation occurs during prolonged fasting, when the body does not have enough energy resources and it utilizes its proteins
When dehydrated, exposed to a hot room or elevated body temperature, protein can also penetrate the kidney membrane and be excreted in the urine.
physiological protein losses in men with urine, which contains prostatic secretions, are about one hundred and fifty milligrams per day.

Normally, a urine test may contain up to 0.033 g/l of protein. Daily loss normally does not exceed 30-50 milligrams. Depending on the volume of protein excreted in the urine, proteinuria is divided into three subtypes.

Microproteinuria is considered to be a daily loss of 150 to 500 milligrams per day.
Moderate protein loss is considered to be between 500 and 2000 mg per day.
Macroproteinuria (protein flakes visible in the urine with the eye) is a loss of more than 2 grams of protein per day.

Causes of increased protein in urine

A pathological condition when protein is detected in the urine, associated with various diseases. Proteinuria can be prerenal, renal and postrenal.

Prerenal is associated with pathological changes outside the urinary system

Burns
Tumors
Strokes

cause massive breakdown of protein in the body, which enters the bloodstream and is excreted by the kidneys.

Renal (renal) is associated with pathologies of the renal glomerulus or tubular apparatus

Postrenal proteinuria

It is associated with diseases of the urinary tract and manifests itself in pyelonephritis, cystitis and urethritis of various origins, complemented by the clinical picture of these diseases.

Pyelonephritis (acute or chronic) is an infectious inflammation of the kidney tissue, characterized by fever, nagging pain in the projection of the kidneys (lower back and abdomen), frequent urge to urinate or urinary retention. Swelling appears on the face in the morning. In urine tests, a large number of leukocytes, bacteria, red blood cells and protein appear in the form of cylinders.

Reasons for a child

Children, like adults, lose protein in the urine due to physiological proteinuria or diseases of the urinary system. Normally, there is no protein in one portion of children’s urine or no more than 0.033 g/l. The daily excretion in children under one month of age is about 200 mg, in older children - about 60 mg.

Pathological reasons for the detection of protein in urine in childhood coincide with those in adults. Functional types in children:

For fever
Proteinuria of newborns, which is observed up to 10 days from birth, and in premature infants can last up to three weeks
Hemolytic disease of newborn may also produce protein in urine
Orthostatic in children 6-16 years old when standing
When overloaded with protein foods
For severe anemia
During fasting or severe hypothermia
With hypervitaminosis D

Protein in the urine of pregnant women

A condition such as pregnancy can also produce protein in the urine. Since pregnant women often have urinary tract infections, protein can also enter the urine from the genital tract if the rules for taking the test are not followed (careful hygiene of the external genitalia and a cotton swab in the vagina).

Indicator test strips are sold in pharmacies most often in pencil cases or tubes from 5 to 100 pcs.

The causes of proteinuria in pregnant women lie in increased permeability of the glomerular membrane to the albumin fraction of proteins. Albumins have fairly small molecules that easily penetrate membrane pores.

The norm during this period is considered to be a daily protein loss of up to 30 mg.
From 30 mg to 300 – microalbuminuria
Above – macroalbuminuria

With macroalbuminuria, as a rule, there are:

pronounced hidden edema (large weight gain) and external edema on the face, limbs and anterior abdominal wall
this indicates gestosis and risks of oxygen starvation of the fetus and miscarriage (see gestosis during pregnancy)
this is the so-called nephropathy of pregnancy, combining protein in the urine, edema and high blood pressure.

In the first degree, its protein in the urine does not exceed 1 g/l. With the second, it ranges from 1 to 3 g/l. The third degree is characterized by losses of more than 3 g/l. With a level of protein loss of about 500 mg per day, there is a high risk of developing such a serious complication as eclampsia, with a jump in blood pressure, convulsions and the possible development of coma in the pregnant woman and fetal death.

Laboratory detection of protein

Typically, protein in urine is determined using:

turbodimetric titration or colorimetry. These are quantitative tests that give an idea of the amount of protein per unit volume of urine or in its daily amount.
There are also semi-quantitative methods using test strips, which can be false positive when the patient takes penicillin antibiotics, sulfonamides, chlorhexidine, butamide, after the introduction of X-ray contrast agents.

The results of determining protein in urine are obtained by comparing the colored part of the test strip with the color scale on the surface of the container.

Often protein in a urine test is described as casts, that is, casts of the kidney tubules. There are several varieties of them.

Hyaline casts (normally there may be 1-2 of them) are a pure protein that is found in physiological and pathological renal and extrarenal proteinuria.
Granular casts are protein with adherent epithelium. Characteristic of glomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy.
Waxy ones are formed from granular ones after they are retained in the renal tubules and partially softened to a homogeneous consistency.
Erythrocytes, respectively, are protein and red blood cells (for example, in Berger's disease).
Leukocytes are characteristic of pyelonephritis and, in addition to protein, contain white blood cells.

Thus, the detection of protein in the urine is an alarming symptom that prompts a more detailed diagnostic search to exclude serious kidney damage.

What does mucus in urine mean?

The entire length of the urinary tract (ureters, bladder and urethra) is lined with epithelium, among which there are goblet cells that secrete mucus. The main function of mucus is to protect the internal lining urinary tract from the irritating effect of urea and acidic urine.

Normally, just enough mucus is released to neutralize aggressive influences. When urinating, a very small amount of it is released into the urine, which cannot be seen with the eye, but can be determined by laboratory testing of urine.

Normally, when describing a urine test, a note will be made: “minus mucus,” which means that there is no need to worry about this.

If there is increased mucus in the urine

With inflammatory changes that occur in the urinary tract, their mucous membrane becomes congested, swells, and goblet cells begin to actively produce an increased amount of mucous secretion, as if trying to protect the ureters, bladder and urethra from the aggression of bacteria, fungi or viruses. A lot of mucus in a urine test appears with urethritis, cystitis or urinary tract infection.

This is an inflammatory disease of the urethra, which can occur as an acute or chronic process. Most often, urethritis is provoked by a saprophytic bacterial infection (Escherichia coli, staphylococci) or specific flora of sexually transmitted infections (gonococci, mycoplasma, trichomonas, gardnerella).

Thus, mucus in the urine of men, in combination with leukocytosis and the appearance of blood, usually appears with specific acute urethritis (see urethritis in men). Less commonly, the cause of inflammation of the urethra is fungi of the genus Candida albicans or viruses. The clinical picture of urethritis boils down to pain at the beginning of urination, itching and burning in the urethra, and frequent urge to urinate.

Cystitis or inflammation of the bladder

This is a more polymorphic acute or chronic disease, the main cause of which is today generally recognized as E. coli (see cystitis in women). For hemorrhagic forms of the disease, a viral origin is more typical. Clinical manifestations of cystitis are reduced to heaviness and pain in the suprapubic region, increased frequency of urination, false urge to urinate, pain in the middle and end of urination and pathological changes in urine analysis in the form of the appearance of abundant mucus, bacteria, leukocytes and red blood cells (with hemorrhagic cystitis).

Urinary tract infection

This is a transient condition associated with inflammation of the urinary tract against the background of increased aggressiveness of saprophytic microflora. It can occur with the clinical picture of urethritis or cystitis, but during instrumental studies there are no morphological changes in the mucous membrane of the urinary tract.

The infection clears up fairly quickly with antibacterial treatment. Women of reproductive age are most susceptible to this pathology. On the one hand, the structural features of the perineum and the proximity of the external urethral opening to the genital tract determine the association of urinary tract infections with sexual life, when in addition to their own microflora, saprophytic microbes of the partner can also enter the urinary tract of a woman.

On the other hand, women have an increased risk of introducing E. coli into the urethra from the anal area. The risk of infection reaches its greatest peak during periods when women have a reduced immune response: during menopause or pregnancy. A small amount of mucus in the urine during pregnancy is considered normal.

But mucus and bacteria in the urine in combination with leukocytosis, red blood cells or protein is a reason to conduct a more thorough examination of the urinary tract.

A large amount of mucus in the urine of women may also indicate an inflammatory process in the genital tract, so an examination by a gynecologist if there are changes in urine tests is mandatory.

Mucus in a child's urine

Caution should always be present when mucus is found in a child’s urine. Features of the structure of the urinary system in children:

imperfection of innervation
weaker muscle layer
incomplete kidney development three years old, their increased mobility
wider ureters with less contractility than in adults
thinner and more vulnerable urethral mucosa predisposes to the easy development of urinary tract infections

At the same time, girls get sick more often than boys due to the shorter and wider urethra and the proximity of its external opening to the anus, which creates more favorable conditions for ascending infection. When a child has increased mucus in the urine, the reasons should be sought according to the same principle as in adults, excluding inflammation of the urethra, bladder, ureters and kidneys.

As a rule, a general urinalysis is prescribed again (it is replaced with a Nechiporenko analysis if they want to clarify the nature of the urinary sediment), in addition, clinical blood and kidney tests are examined in biochemistry.
According to indications, a Zimnitsky test, urine culture, cystoscopy, ultrasound of the kidneys or excretory urography are prescribed.

Moderate mucus in combination with leukocytes, bacteria and protein is always indisputable evidence of problems in the child’s urinary system.

By proteinuria or increased protein in the urine, doctors mean the presence of protein inclusions in the above-mentioned substance. At the same time, protein is constantly released into the urine, so its visual appearance or diagnosis through analysis requires additional examination of the person for a wide variety of diseases and pathological-physiological conditions.

General description

The presence of protein in urine is determined using a biochemical analysis of urine. Normally, the protein should either be completely absent or present in trace amounts, and temporarily.

The filtration system of the kidneys physiologically filters out high molecular weight particles, while small structures can be absorbed into the blood from urine while still in the renal tubules.

Normal protein in urine

For men

The maximum norm for protein content in urine for representatives of the stronger sex is considered to be up to 0.3 grams per liter - this concentration can be explained by powerful physical shock loads on the body, stress, and hypothermia. Anything above this value is pathological.

For most cases, no protein should be detected normally in children. The maximum value of this parameter should not exceed 0.025 grams per liter of urine. A deviation from the norm of up to 0.7-0.9 grams per liter of urine is sometimes observed for periods in boys aged from six to fourteen years - this is the so-called orthostatic or postural protein. It appears, as a rule, in daytime urine and is a feature of the kidneys during the period of teenage puberty of the stronger sex, most often due to increased physiological activity, against the background of a long stay of the body in an upright state. Moreover, the phenomenon is not periodic, i.e. in a repeated sample, the protein is often not identified.

For women

For pregnant women, up to thirty milligrams is considered normal, from thirty to three hundred milligrams is microalbuminuria. At the same time, a number of studies show that a concentration of up to three hundred milligrams of protein per liter of liquid in a classic daily biochemical analysis in the later stages does not cause complications for the mother and fetus, so this indicator can be attributed to physiological proteinuria.

Causes of high protein

Increased protein in urine can be caused by a number of reasons.

Physiology

Powerful physical activity.
Excessive consumption of foods rich in protein.
Prolonged stay in an upright position with corresponding disruption of blood flow.
Late pregnancy.
Prolonged exposure to the sun.
Hypothermia of the body.
Active palpation of the kidney area.
Severe stress, concussions, epileptic seizures.

Congestion in the kidneys.
Hypertension.
Nephropathies of various etiologies.
Amyloidosis of the kidneys.
Pyelonephritis, genetic tubulopathies.
Tubular necrosis.
Rejection of transplanted kidneys.
Multiple myeloma.
Hemolysis.
Leukemia.
Myopathies.
Feverish conditions.
Tuberculosis and kidney tumors.
Urolithiasis, cystitis, prostatitis, urethritis, bladder tumors.

What does increased protein in urine mean?

In adults and children

Exceeding normal values in adults and children usually means the presence in the body of physiological or pathological problems that require identification, correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Exceptions, as mentioned above, are made for representatives of the stronger sex in adolescence, if the increase in protein concentration is of an irregular, non-systemic nature.

Mild degrees of proteinuria (up to one gram of protein per liter of urine) are usually eliminated quite quickly, moderate (up to 3 g/l) and severe (over 3 g/l) require not only the highest quality diagnosis, but also a fairly long complex treatment, since they are usually caused by serious pathologies.

In pregnant women

Modern research shows that physiological changes organism in pregnant women, especially in the later stages, with a protein concentration of up to 0.5 grams per liter of urine do not have a negative effect on the fetus and the woman, however, if the above parameters exceed the specified limit of 500 milligrams/liter of urine, then the fair sex in interesting position complex diagnostics and treatment will be required, naturally taking into account her physiological state, as well as a competent assessment of the risks for the unborn child.

Specific treatment of proteinuria, regardless of the gender and age of the patient, is aimed at eliminating the causes of the pathological condition, as well as neutralizing negative symptomatic manifestations.

Since increased protein in the urine can be caused by a number of factors, specific therapy is prescribed by a qualified doctor only after a thorough diagnosis of the patient and an accurate determination of the disease or physiological condition.

With moderate and severe manifestations of proteinuria with the manifestation of nephrotic syndromes of various etiologies, a person requires hospitalization, bed rest, and a special diet with maximum restriction in salt and liquids. The groups of drugs used (depending on the cause of the condition) are immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, cytostatics, anti-inflammatory/anti-rheumatic, antihypertensive drugs, ACE inhibitors, as well as blood purification by hemosorption or plasmaformesis.

If a person has mild proteinuria caused by an orthostatic or functional factor, then medications, as a rule, are not used: normalization of circadian rhythms is important, correct selection diet, as well as giving up a number of bad habits.

Useful video

How to reduce protein in urine?

There is no universal remedy that helps reduce protein in the urine, since the result of tests with an increased concentration of the above-mentioned component in urine is a sign of the presence of a certain pathology in the body. If this pathology is associated with a disease, then you will need to undergo a high-quality examination, on the basis of which the appropriate complex therapy will be prescribed.

In the case where the problem is caused by physiological reasons, specific treatment is not required. People are advised to reduce physical stress on the body and to eat a diet with maximum restrictions on proteins, fats, salt and liquid.

What to do if protein and blood are found in the urine?

The presence of large amounts of protein and red blood cells in the urine are symptoms of glomerulonephritis - damage to the renal glomeruli due to infections, toxic factors, hereditary syndromes, and systemic diseases. The patient will require hospitalization, comprehensive diagnostics with blood and urine donation for biochemical tests, CT and ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, and in some cases, kidney biopsy.

After diagnosis and precise determination of the cause of glomurelonephritis, symptomatic, antibacterial, immunosuppressive therapy, as well as hemodialysis, are prescribed.

How to collect urine for protein?

As a rule, a doctor prescribes a separate protein test after detecting an increased single concentration of a component in a general urine test. To carry out the procedure, you need to collect urine throughout the day.

The day before collection, limit or completely avoid sweets, spicy/fatty foods, beets and carrots, as well as medicines. During menstruation, you should refuse to take the test.

Early in the morning, perform a thorough toileting of the external genitalia. There is no need to collect the very first portion of urine - start accumulating material for analysis from the second urination. Follow your usual drinking regimen, pouring the urine into a three-liter, thoroughly washed and sterile jar, each time after urinating, closing it with a tight lid and placing it in the refrigerator at a temperature of five to eight degrees Celsius. After a day has passed and the last portion of liquid has been collected, shake the container with the daily dose vigorously and pour 100 milliliters of urine into the flask, then immediately take the sample to the laboratory.

Proteinuria is a condition in which protein is present in the urine. The phenomenon refers to the symptoms of a wide range of diseases. It is impossible to detect such an impurity in urine at home. To remove the compound from urine, it is necessary to act on the underlying pathology. The localization of the lesion can only be determined using laboratory, hardware and instrumental diagnostic methods. Without undergoing an examination, it is impossible to determine the cause of the deterioration of the condition. In 99% of cases, treatment is indicated for patients with a protein compound in their urine.

Proteinuria indicates the development of a serious pathological process in the body. It can be destructive, infectious-inflammatory or tumor in origin. The physiological function of the kidneys is disrupted - filtration, excretory (excretory). Toxic substances that should normally be eliminated from the body through urination accumulate in the blood, causing harmful effects.

What is the norm

When the body is in a healthy state, the protein compound is not contained in the urine at all. But taking into account the patient’s possible intake of Aminoglycoside, Colistin or Acetazolamide, the acceptable concentration is considered to be up to 0.033 g/l per day. In pregnant women, this value is 0.14 g/l, as hormonal and other physiological changes occur in the body. Depending on the concentration of the protein compound in the urine, proteinuria is classified into 4 degrees.

Occurs:

Microalbuminuria. Protein concentration – 30-300 mg/day
Mild degree. The condition can be quickly corrected. Protein content varies from 300 mg to 1 g/day
Average degree. The patient requires hospitalization. Protein concentration – 1-3 g/day
Severe degree. The patient is being treated in the intensive care unit. The presence of protein compounds exceeds 3000 mg/day

To correctly determine protein levels, you need to correctly submit your urine for testing. Morning urine is suitable for analysis, which should be collected in a clean, dry container immediately after hygiene measures. To compare protein levels, the doctor may order an analysis of the daily volume of urine - in this case, it will have to be collected over a 24-hour period.

Symptoms

As proteinuria increases, the patient experiences the following symptoms:

Twisting sensations in the joints of the arms and legs
Increased blood pressure, difficult to correct
Swelling in the arms, legs, face, and in severe pathologies, fluid accumulates inside the abdominal cavity
Pale skin, dizziness, feeling of general weakness
Cramps mainly at night
Lack of appetite
Chills, nausea
Increased fatigue
Unpleasant sensations in the lumbosacral back

Depending on the underlying cause that caused the urine to become saturated with protein, the patient may have an increase in body temperature. Additional symptoms are disturbances in sleep and brain activity, changes in the shade of urine - it becomes cloudy, containing characteristic flakes.

Reasons

Factors that cause proteinuria are previous poisonings, burns, progressive or recently resolved infectious and inflammatory processes in the body. Other reasons are allergies, hypothermia, exposure to stress, and a genetic predisposition to the development of diseases that cause urine to become saturated with protein. The phenomenon also occurs due to taking certain medications and compression of the kidneys by the growing uterus (during pregnancy). Rarely, saturation of urine with protein is a consequence of poor nutrition: if it is dominated by the consumption of raw eggs and dairy products.

Polycystic kidney disease

Multiple cysts inside a paired organ are a consequence of genetic predisposition, previous lower back injuries, and the negative influence of endogenous and exogenous factors. The patient’s health condition does not bother him for a long time. He learns about polycystic disease during an examination for another reason or when tumors suppurate. Proteinuria is a consequence of inflammation of cysts, which is dangerous due to organ abscess. If the neoplasms fester (for example, when bacteria transfer to the parenchyma from another pathogenic focus), in addition to the saturation of urine with a protein compound:

Body temperature rises significantly
There is severe pain in the lower back
Blood pressure levels decrease, which causes weakness, dizziness, and loss of appetite
Increased sweat production

When cysts suppurate, the patient is indicated for surgical treatment, followed by antibiotic therapy.

Pyelonephritis

Damage to the renal pelvis, which occurs due to exposure to pathogenic microflora, often bacteria. Men and women are equally susceptible to the disease. The reasons for the development of pathology are hypothermia, the transfer of pathogens from neighboring foci of inflammation, and the use of potent medications.

Symptoms of pyelonephritis:

Lower back pain
Increased body temperature
Weakness, lack of appetite, dizziness
Increased urge to urinate
Reduced blood pressure levels
Pallor, sleep disturbance

When the patient voices the listed complaints, he is examined and prescribed a diagnostic test. It is on the basis of the results of the study that the presence of a high volume of protein is determined, which serves as an indication for immediate hospitalization. Treatment is antibiotic therapy, administration of vitamins and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormones. Also, for pyelonephritis, nutritional correction is indicated: exclusion of salty, spicy, sour, and alcoholic foods.

Glomerulonephritis

Inflammation of the glomerular apparatus of the kidneys is a consequence of exposure to conditions high humidity air, genetic predisposition, poisoning.

Signs of glomerulonephritis:

Pain in the lower back when urinating, changing body position, or performing even a small amount of physical activity
Light pink coloration of urine
Increased body temperature
Weakness, lethargy, dizziness, lack of appetite and other signs associated with intoxication of the body

The presence of protein in urine is an indicator of the progression of a severe inflammatory process inside the kidneys.

Glomerulonephritis is eliminated through antibiotic therapy, the use of hemostatic drugs, hormones, and vitamins. The disease also requires adherence to a diet, reduced consumption of salt and water. Glomerulonephritis is dangerous due to renal failure, in which the only treatment option is hemodialysis, and then organ transplantation.

Amyloidosis and renal tuberculosis

Amyloidosis is a pathological condition in which toxic compounds – amyloids – accumulate in the body. The exact reasons for the development of the disease have not been established, but according to the observations of doctors, the main factor is hereditary predisposition. Those at risk for pathology include malignant tumors and autoimmune processes (systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis).

Symptoms of amyloidosis:

Frequent urination
Decreased sensation in the arms and legs
Reduced blood pressure readings
Swelling of the arms and legs
Pale pink hue of urine
Weight gain (including due to edema)
Shortness of breath, chest pain
Dizziness

At severe forms Amyloidosis causes total intoxication of the body, accumulation of large amounts of fluid inside the tissues. Kidney tuberculosis is a pathological process in which the structure of the organ is destroyed. The cause of the development of pathology is infection with mycobacteria entering the blood through the hematogenous route.

The main manifestations of renal tuberculosis are dull pain in the lower back, an increase in body temperature to low levels, the presence of blood in the urine, and discomfort when urinating. Protein in urine is not the only symptom detected during analysis in patients with the disease in question. In tuberculosis, urine additionally contains mycobacteria and red blood cells.

Hypertension

A pathological condition in which the patient’s blood pressure often increases, which is facilitated by:

Hereditary predisposition
Abuse of alcohol, junk food, chaotic medication use
Constant exposure to stress
Frequent exposure to high temperatures
Presence of obesity of 2 or more degrees

Hypertension is dangerous because of a crisis - a condition in which the level of blood pressure reaches unacceptably high limits. This leads to the development of a stroke. Protein in urine with hypertension indicates problems with blood clotting - the risk of clots increases. Blood clots can block the lumen of veins and arteries, block blood flow to organs, cause hypoxia, or break off.

Diabetes mellitus

One of the most severe endocrine diseases. The cause of development is hereditary predisposition, stress, alcoholism. Main manifestations of the disease:

Long-term healing of even small wounds
Thirst
Increased sweating
Increased daily diuresis

Proteinuria in diabetes mellitus indicates a significant imbalance of hormones in the blood and confirms the presence of pancreatic dysfunction. To maintain insulin levels in the body at normal levels and avoid the development of coma, you need to visit an endocrinologist.

Preeclampsia in pregnant women

Consequence of stress factors, hereditary predisposition, age over 40 years, taking medications. The presence of proteinuria during gestation is a sign that the child’s growth and development may be impaired. The reason is insufficient blood flow to the fetus, intoxication with compounds that accumulate in the blood due to the failure of the kidneys to filter.

A woman’s blood pressure levels rise to critical levels, a severe headache occurs, and convulsions appear. If there is a massive loss of protein during urination, albumin transfusion is indicated for all pregnant women. This action relates to replacement therapy, reduces the likelihood of fetal death, placental abruption, premature birth.

Atherosclerosis of the renal arteries

A serious disease of the cardiovascular system, in which the arteries supplying the paired organ with blood are clogged with fatty deposits. Atherosclerotic plaques form gradually, this is accompanied by poor nutrition, staying near foci of toxic effects, and the heredity factor. Proteinuria indicates impaired renal function, which leads to necrosis of organ tissue due to insufficient blood supply. In case of aggravated atherosclerosis of the renal arteries, organ-preserving surgery is performed.

Cystitis

Inflammation of the bladder develops for several reasons, the main of which are:

Hypothermia
Introducing bacteria from other foci of inflammation (with vaginal candidiasis, colitis, pyelonephritis)
Failure to comply with personal hygiene rules
Recent medical and diagnostic procedures using non-sterile instruments
Excessive activity during intimacy
Allergy to latex condoms; intolerance to the fabric from which pads and tampons are made
Unprotected sexual intercourse with a partner who does not maintain personal hygiene
Suffered severe poisoning - food, drug or other type

In women, cystitis occurs more often than in men, which is associated with the anatomical features of the urinary canal. Proteinuria during inflammation of the bladder is a sign of extensive damage to the organ, an indicator of the risk of a possible transition of the pathological process to the kidneys. Symptoms of cystitis are pain and burning during urine discharge, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, spasms above the pubis, increased body temperature. Cystitis is eliminated with antibiotics, uroseptics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Additionally, it is recommended to apply a heating pad to the suprapubic area, but provided there is no hematuria (when the urine is saturated with blood).

Urethritis

Inflammation of the urethra is a consequence of insufficient personal hygiene, hypothermia, wearing too tight underwear, allergies. Urethritis is manifested by proteinuria in a chronic course and a high probability of spread of the lesion to neighboring organs. Manifestations of the pathology are irritation during urination, a slight increase in body temperature, swelling of the urethra, redness of the tissues of the vulva. Treatment does not differ from the therapy used for the development of cystitis.

Prostatitis in men

Inflammation of the prostate gland is a consequence of factors such as hypothermia, physical inactivity, lack of constant sexual activity, and the presence of a sexually transmitted disease. Prostatitis also occurs with a genetic predisposition to the disease. Signs of prostate inflammation:

Pain when urinating, pain inside the urethra
Increased body temperature
Urine discharge in a sluggish, intermittent stream
Discomfort in the perineum when a man is in a sitting position
Appearance unpleasant odor from urine, change in color
The need to tense the abdominal muscles to completely empty the bladder

Protein in urine in men suffering from prostatitis indicates extensive damage to organ tissue and the development of hormonal imbalance. If prostatitis is not eliminated in a timely manner acute form, it takes a chronic course. The disease can lead to the development of impotence and cause infertility. The inflammatory and infectious process of the prostate gland is treated with antibiotics, non-steroidal drugs, hormonal drugs, and vitamins. Additionally, prostate massage and a number of physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed.

Inflammation of the ureters

The disease is promoted by hypothermia, the movement of pathogenic microflora from neighboring lesions, and prolonged inhibition of the urge to urinate. Also, inflammation of the ureters occurs due to poor personal hygiene, abuse of salty, sour and spicy foods.

The pathology is eliminated by using antibiotics, uroseptics (Furazolidone and its analogues), and multivitamin complexes. Additionally, adherence to a diet is indicated - refusal to eat salty, sour, spicy, smoked foods; exclusion of alcohol, fruit drinks, caffeine. Proteinuria during inflammation of the ureters is an indicator of the lack of proper treatment, a signal of the imminent transition of the pathological process to the kidneys and bladder.

Possible complications

Proteins perform a wide range of functions in the body:

adjust hormone levels
balance the degree of blood clotting
protect the body from attacks by pathogens of all types
support tissue structure, preventing the degeneration of cells from physiological to malignant

Complications associated with an increase in protein compounds in the blood - a violation hormonal levels, reduced immunity and susceptibility to diseases, including cancer. Depending on the underlying cause of proteinuria, the patient may experience a kidney abscess, failure of this organ; in pregnant women – premature birth, placental abruption. If urine is oversaturated with protein compounds, fetal death may occur - the kidneys cannot cope with the filtration function and toxins accumulate in the blood.

Which doctor should I contact?

Initially, if your health worsens, you should visit a therapist: he will prescribe a basic examination. Taking into account the diagnostic results, the underlying pathology is established. This is how the profile of the doctor is determined, who will subsequently prescribe, monitor and adjust therapy. If protein is detected in the urine of pregnant women, a treatment plan is drawn up by the observing gynecologist. Proteinuria caused by diabetes mellitus is treated by an endocrinologist. If protein saturates the urine due to inflammation of the urogenital tract, you will need to consult a urologist. When interconnected increased protein in urine and hypertension, contact a cardiologist.

Diagnostics

To establish the root cause of urine saturation with protein, extensive diagnostics are prescribed. Basic methods:

Clinical, biochemical blood test.
Urinalysis - general, bacteriological, according to Zimnitsky, according to Nechiporenko.
Ultrasound of the kidneys, bladder, ureters (depending on the organ whose usefulness the doctor has doubts about).
MRI or CT. Complex radiation imaging methods provide information about the state of health when other types of diagnostics are less informative.
X-ray examination (a general overview image allows you to assess the condition and location of the kidneys).
Urethral smear to determine microflora.
Urine examination for mycobacteria (if kidney tuberculosis is suspected).

Additional types of diagnostics depend on the characteristics of the clinical case. It is possible to prescribe a Doppler ultrasound, a blood test to determine its sugar level, and excretory urography.

Treatment

To eliminate protein from urine and stop the underlying disease that caused proteinuria, patients are prescribed:

Corticosteroids. Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone or Dexamethasone prevent the development of inflammation and restore renal activity. Hormonal drugs are administered taking into account the patient’s weight and age.
Antibacterial drugs. A specific type of antibiotic is prescribed only taking into account the identified causative agent of the underlying pathology that caused proteinuria.
Non-steroidal drugs (NSAIDs). Drugs in this group relieve pain and eliminate the process of inflammation. General contraindications for the use of NSAIDs are the presence of gastritis, colitis, gastric or duodenal ulcers.
Vitamins. Synthetic substitutes for biologically active substances help restore immunity and normalize blood circulation.
Antihypertensive drugs. Allows you to normalize blood pressure, avoid the development of crisis and hemorrhagic stroke.

For kidney tuberculosis, medications are prescribed to prevent the organ tissue from shrinking. Excessive bleeding during urination (for example, with glomerulonephritis) is an indication for the use of Dicinone, Calcium chloride, Sodium ethamsylate, Aminocaproic acid. In case of hypertensive crisis, the patient is prescribed the administration of Dibazol, Papaverine, Magnesium sulfate. These drugs help quickly normalize blood pressure levels.

Prevention

To prevent the development of diseases that are characterized by saturation of urine with protein, it is necessary:

Avoid hypothermia.
During sports or professional activities, protect the body from possible injuries.
Keep your distance from sources of toxic or radiation radiation.
Do not use medications without a doctor's prescription.
Control your diet and avoid the presence of unnatural products in it.
Carry out hygiene measures carefully and regularly.
Stop drinking alcohol and other bad habits.

Protein in the urine is a signal of a serious disorder in the body. It is possible that it has a hidden form, but this does not make the degree of negative impact on health less. To get rid of proteinuria, the underlying condition that caused this symptom is eliminated. Depending on the identified disease, the use of antibiotics, anti-tuberculosis drugs, and hormones is prescribed.

A slight increase in protein in the urine is acceptable during pregnancy. But, given the frequent development of preeclampsia in pregnant women, women with proteinuria are under increased control by gynecologists.

Video: Decoding urine test

Increased protein in urine - what does it mean? Many patients immediately assume that they have kidney disease and go for examination, but according to the results, their kidneys may be healthy.

In this article we will talk about the possible reasons why protein appears in the urine, find out what symptoms are characteristic of this condition, and also get acquainted with the methods by which this deviation from the norm can be detected.

The kidneys perform many different functions:

removal of water and metabolic products;
regulation of ionic and acid-base balance;
hormone synthesis, intermediate metabolism.

With glomerular defects, protein molecules cannot be retained by the basement membrane and penetrate into the primary urine, and therefore an increased level of protein in the urine may be observed. Normally, protein molecules are too large to easily penetrate through the pores.

The reasons are:

Physical activity and stressful situations can lead to the release of small amounts of protein, resulting in temporary proteinuria.
The reasons for the increase in protein in the urine are associated with eating a large amount of protein food (eggs, some types of meat, dairy products) the day before.
Late pregnancy. Most often this occurs due to mechanical compression of the kidneys due to fetal growth.
Medical manipulations, for example, active palpation of the kidneys through the anterior abdominal wall or Charcot's shower can lead to a temporary increase in protein in the urine.
Hypothermia and colds (ARVI, flu) can provoke an increased level of protein in the urine of a child or an adult.
Errors in collecting urine for analysis, namely the absence or insufficiently thorough hygiene procedures before collection, lead to the fact that the results reveal high protein in the urine of a child or adult.

Pathological causes are associated with diseases of both the kidneys and other organs and body systems, and can be as follows:

– an infectious disease during which the tissue structures of the kidney vessels are affected, resulting in their functional failure (impaired urine formation and removal of toxins). During the acute stage of this disease, leukocytes and protein in the urine are increased, in addition, other disturbances are observed: changes in density and color, reduced volume of urine excreted.
If high protein is detected in the urine, the reasons lie in the existing species. It is worth noting that proteinuria due to stones in different parts of the urinary system is quite rare. More typical is the detection of leukocytes in the urine.
– characterized by a nonspecific inflammatory process in the tissues of the kidneys and the collecting system. The presence of bacteria, as well as an increased concentration of protein in the urine of a child or adult, is detected in the results of OAM.
If there is increased protein in the urine, this may indicate specific kidney damage. which occurs in patients with diabetes. Another name for this pathology is diabetic nephropathy. Damage to the vessels of the kidneys and the formation of nodular or diffuse glomerulosclerosis occurs, with the possible development of renal failure. Protein release is characteristic of stages 2-4 of diabetic nephropathy.
Prostatitis– acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland in men. Often accompanied by changes in the general urine analysis, namely the presence of a small amount of protein, leukocytes, erythrocytes, and salts.
At there is blood in the urine, there is an increase in protein in the urine; the reasons are associated with a gradual disruption of the normal functioning of the kidneys.
Obesity 3-4 degrees- this is a condition in which the patient’s weight exceeds the recommended norm by 55-100% or more, which means an increase in weight on average twice as much as normal. The appearance of protein in the urine occurs because kidney function is impaired due to excess weight.
Why is there increased protein in the urine? The cause may be hypertension at stages 2-3. Most often, hematuria, cylindruria and proteinuria occur in patients with intercurrent diseases (i.e. those that complicate the course of the underlying disease).
Presence of non-organ-specific autoimmune diseases, like systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma, which affect the connective tissues and blood vessels of the kidneys, which causes an increase in protein in the urine. The functioning of the heart, liver, lungs, and joints is also disrupted, and the serous membranes and skin are affected.
Myeloma– another reason why protein in the urine is increased. This is a malignant disease that affects the hematopoietic system and bones. Kidney damage is typical for most patients. The presence of protein in the urine is observed, cylindruria and a large amount of Betts-Jones protein are characteristic.

Pay attention! In some cases, increased protein in the urine of a child can be observed with long-term use of antibacterial drugs.

Urinalysis technique

Before you find out what causes increased protein in the urine, you need to actually find this very protein. To do this, the doctor writes a referral for a general urine test.

This type of analysis is very informative and is the main diagnostic test in many areas of medicine. Using analysis, you can not only determine the physical properties of urine, but also its composition.

Instructions for preparing for the study include the following recommendations:

The day before collecting biomaterial, limit the consumption of foods that tend to change the color of urine (bright fruits and vegetables, spices, sweets and smoked foods).
Limit the consumption of alcohol, vitamins, dietary supplements and diuretics (including coffee).
If possible, do not visit the bathhouse or sauna the day before, and avoid physical activity.
If the patient is taking any medications, it is necessary to notify the doctor about this.
It is prohibited to take a urine test if a cystoscopy was performed less than a week ago.

The sample should not be contaminated with foreign matter, and therefore it is recommended to follow the rules for collecting material:

For the analysis, morning urine is used, which accumulates in the bladder throughout the night.
Before collecting biomaterial, it is necessary to toilet the genital organs. This will avoid unreliable results.
Use sterile, disposable containers that have not previously been in contact with cleaning agents or detergents.
To prevent bacteria from the external genitalia from getting into the sample, it is necessary to flush a little urine into the toilet, and then, without stopping urination, collect about 100-150 ml of urine in a container without touching the skin with the container.
Biomaterial can be stored for no more than 1-2 hours at a temperature of about 5-18С. Material that was stored at room temperature is unsuitable for analysis.
Urine bags can be used to collect urine from children in the first year of life. What determines this technique of collecting from a child - the reasons for using bags are simple: collecting material from small children is quite difficult, especially if diapers are regularly used.

Based on the results of the analysis, the following is assessed:

Volume– normally about 100-300 ml, a smaller amount may indicate dehydration or renal failure. An increased amount is possible in case of diabetes mellitus or pyelonephritis.
Color– straw yellow. A change in color occurs in diseases of the liver, kidneys, and the presence of purulent inflammatory processes. Also, the color of the material may change when using various medications and vitamins.
Smell– changes with diabetes mellitus and inflammation in the genitourinary system.
Foaminess– normally absent. A large amount of foam is typical for proteinuria, jaundice, stress, diabetes, some metabolic disorders, etc.
Transparency– normally transparent. Turbidity can be caused by mucus, red blood cells, salts, pus and other inclusions.
Density– 1000-1025 units. An increase in indicators is characteristic of dehydration, and a decrease is characteristic of kidney disease.
Acidity– 5-7.5 pH
Ketone bodies- are a sign of diabetes.
Bilirubin– does not occur normally. Found in urine in liver pathologies.
Protein– should not occur, but the presence of no more than 0.033 g/l is allowed. Depending on the increase in protein levels in the urine, proteinuria is classified into mild (1 g/day), moderate (1-3 g/day) and severe (3 g/day or more).
Blood cells– single ones may be observed in the field of view. An increase in their number indicates kidney disease, intoxication, and autoimmune diseases.
Bacteria– are not detected normally. Their appearance is characteristic of infectious diseases of the urinary tract.
Cylinders– any types of casts are not observed in the urine of a healthy person. Their appearance indicates pathologies of the urinary tract, severe physical activity and stress, viral infections, and hypertension.
Mushrooms– urine analysis indicates a fungal infection of the genitourinary system.
Salts– practically absent. They can be diagnosed with a sudden change in diet, dehydration, intense physical activity and some kidney diseases.

It is worth noting that the price of a general urine test is very low, and in public medical institutions this study is carried out free of charge.

From the photos and videos in this article, we were able to learn about the most common causes of proteinuria, and also looked at the technique of preparing for a general urine test.

Frequently asked questions to the doctor

Unknown reasons

Hello. I gave birth less than a week ago, the baby had a urine test and an increased amount of protein was determined. Tell me, why is there increased protein in a child’s urine?

The kidney is a paired organ that, by producing and excreting urine, regulates the chemical homeostasis of the body. The main function is carried out through filtration and secretion of blood plasma.

Protein in the urine appears as a result of increased permeability of the glomerular capillaries or impaired reabsorption.

Classmates

From the capillary glomeruli, blood is filtered into the capsule, and primary urine is formed. Moving further along the nephron tubules, under the action of enzymes, nutrients are broken down and reabsorbed into the blood - secondary urine is formed. It contains metabolic products of complex protein molecules.

When protein is detected in the urine, this means that the filtration capacity of the kidney tubules is impaired. Sometimes this happens with healthy kidneys and is associated with the natural physiological functioning of the body, which determines why protein appears in the urine.

Traces

If a healthy person has traces of protein in their urine, this is normal. A slight increase does not cause clinical manifestations.

The minimum amount of residual protein is determined for each person. An increase in the level is a signal for examination and additional tests.

Proteinuria

The condition when the levels are elevated is called proteinuria. It can be physiological and pathological. In the first case, the predisposing factors are:

physical overload;
hypothermia;
injuries, burns;
taking antibiotics;
nervous disorders;
excess protein products on the menu.

The physiological form does not require treatment and goes away on its own after eliminating the cause.

Types of pathological proteinuria

Pathological has several forms, which means a certain amount of protein in the urine:

Light stage - from 300 mg to 1 g per day.
With a moderate degree, 1–3 g are detected.
Severe or severe form, characterized by a concentration of more than 3 g.

Acceptable rate

If the qualitative reaction showed the presence of protein, its quantitative value is determined. Protein is designated in a urine test as grams per liter (g/l) or grams, milligrams per day (g/mg/day). Each laboratory uses different reagents. The pyrogallol method determines the normal limit: protein in the urine is 0.1 g/l. An analysis using 3% sulfosalicylic acid considers the norm for protein in the urine to be up to 0.03 g/l.

In general analysis

Physical and chemical properties urine, the result suggests what the protein in the urine indicates. Indications for testing are as follows:

preventive examinations;
suspicion of squirrel;
urinary tract diseases;
control of indicators during treatment.

Determination of protein in urine is important in differential diagnosis, since the number of diseases with a similar sign is quite large.

With daily monitoring

If an excess is observed in the general analysis, it is necessary to determine the daily protein in the urine; its norm is from 30 to 50 mg per day.

Urine analysis for protein is collected throughout the day, starting with the second portion and ending with the first portion the next day. From the total volume, 150 ml of the resulting amount is poured into a special container and delivered to the laboratory no later than 2 hours later. The accompanying document must indicate the daily volume.

Total protein in urine is determined during annual examinations. This is especially important for patients with a family history, people over 50 years old, and those with bad habits.

High protein levels are a sign of impaired filtration or reabsorption by the kidneys. Proteinuria can be transient, associated with general diseases, or permanent, due to renal pathology. Violation of the filtration barrier leads to loss of albumin; with a decrease in the reabsorption function, globulins are lost. Increased protein in the urine can be caused by the following diseases and conditions:

glomerulonephritis;
nephrotic syndrome;
amyloidosis;
acute renal necrosis
acute interstitial nephritis;
diabetes mellitus;
malignant hypertension;
Fanconi syndrome.

Protein in the urine of more than 0.3 g per day is due to the destruction of kidney cell elements during prolonged stagnation. Increased protein in the urine has other causes. An increase in the number of protein cells capable of filtration is a consequence of polycystic disease, multiple myeloma, and myoglobinuria.

For males, the protein norm is 0.03 g/l, in an average portion of daily amount let’s say 0.1 g. An increase in values to 1 g/l indicates a mild stage of proteinuria and may be associated with the following physiological factors:

heavy work or sports activities;
hypothermia;
eating protein foods;
alcohol;
emotional disorders and stress;
using steroids.

Incorrect sampling of biomaterial can change the indicators.

Protein in urine is 0.2 g, which can occur during exercise and stress. An increase in protein in women is a consequence of the following reasons:

food high in protein;
hard work, long periods of standing in an upright position;
dehydration, hypothermia;
obesity.

Excess protein can cause the following conditions:

general diseases;
pathologies of the structure of the renal system;
inflammation of the genitourinary organs;
intoxication.

The appearance of protein in the urine is associated with hormonal changes at different stages of a woman’s life: puberty, reproductive, menopause.

The volume of circulating blood in pregnant women increases, and the load on the kidneys increases. Therefore, a urine protein test, ideally negative, is informative and important. Normal indicators, without any manifestations, are:

Sometimes deviations occur due to overwork, stress or fever. The culprit may be poor hygiene or violation of the test collection procedure. If a pregnant woman has a lot of protein in her urine, this indicates serious problems:

pyelonephritis;
nephropathy;
cystitis;
glomerulonephritis.

Protein in urine is dangerous at levels of 1.7 g/l.

In babies under 1 month of age, proteinuria is considered normal. In infants, 0.03–0.06 g of protein per day is acceptable. Some factors can cause an increase of up to 1 g/l in the following categories of children:

Active movements infants lead to the consumption of strength and energy. Early complementary feeding, simultaneous introduction of minced meat and cottage cheese.
Sick and recovered children due to taking a large number of medications.
Excessive activity in boys during puberty.

An increase is possible due to insufficient treatment of the child’s genitals before collecting urine and “dirty” dishes.

Why is it dangerous?

High protein, while a symptom, does not pose a danger in itself. However, it signals serious disorders in the body, usually associated with the kidneys, which do not always manifest themselves as painful symptoms. These are diseases such as:

glomerulonephritis;
nephrotic syndrome;
polycystic kidney disease;
nephritis;
acute renal necrosis;
kidney cancer

Diabetes mellitus and malignant hypertension are also manifested by deviation of protein in urine from reference values.

At high rates, self-medication is unacceptable. Complications can be prevented if you consult a doctor in time.

What to do?

Proteinuria is confirmed after receiving several tests from positive result. If there is increased protein in the urine, sometimes you don’t need to do anything; it is enough to repeat the test in compliance with all the rules to get a negative result. If physiological disorders cause protein to appear in the urine, treatment is not carried out.

It is necessary to analyze your daily routine, change your diet, and reduce physical activity. If you experience frequent emotional distress and stress, your doctor may recommend mild sedatives.

Is treatment required?

For inflammatory and pathological conditions, proteinuria is only a symptom. To normalize the indicators, it is necessary to find the cause. Additional tests and instrumental diagnostics are required:

Antibiotics are used to treat kidneys of bacterial origin.
In case of gestosis, inpatient treatment is carried out to restore kidney function. The therapy is as gentle as possible, aimed at preserving the life of the mother and child.
Diabetes mellitus, along with medications, requires adherence to a diet.
Hypertension requires constant blood pressure monitoring.

Test strips for home

Visually determining what protein looks like in the urine is possible with long-term proteinuria. Turbidity and the appearance of sediment means the presence of protein and.

To quickly determine the components of urine and monitor indicators in case of illness, a strip test is used. The express method is used at home and in medical institutions to adjust the course of treatment. Indicator test strips for protein in urine react at albumin concentrations ranging from 0.1 g/l.

What does Bence Jones protein mean?

The growth of malignant tumors is accompanied by the content of low molecular weight protein in the patient’s urine, which consists of light immunoglobulins. It is produced by plasma cells. It moves through the bloodstream, is not absorbed in the kidneys, but is excreted through urination.

A urine test for Bence Jones protein is a marker of cancer (it is absent in a healthy person). As a result of laboratory chemical reactions, the resulting precipitate is confirmation, for example, of myeloma.

Conclusion

Isolated proteinuria occurs without renal dysfunction as a result of physiological causes or other diseases (accompanied by fever, heart failure).
More often, the appearance of protein in the urine indicates the presence of a pathological process in the body. This changes the functioning of the filtration system, which allows albumin to pass into the urine.
A decrease in the kidneys' ability to reabsorb leads to loss of globulins.
Some diseases lead to the growth of atypical cells that can overcome the filtration barrier.

In this article we will look at what can cause protein to appear in urine.

Passing through the kidneys, the blood is filtered, as a result only those substances that the body needs remain in it, and the rest is excreted in the urine.

Protein molecules are large, and the filtering system of the renal corpuscles does not allow them to pass through. However, due to inflammation or other pathological reasons, the integrity of the tissues in the nephrons is disrupted, and the protein passes freely through their filters.

Protein is one of the possible deviations in general analysis. Most precise definition The composition of urine can be obtained from biochemical studies. What does protein in urine mean? A condition in which its level is elevated is medically called “albuminuria” or “proteinuria.”

Protein is the main building material in the human body. It is present in all its organs, tissues and environments. Normally, protein in urine is detected in very small quantities, since the kidneys carefully filter it out during reabsorption processes. An increase in values may be the result of physiological (stress, diet, etc.) or pathological (oncology, pathologies of the genitourinary system, etc.) reasons.

What does protein in the urine of a man and a woman mean is interesting to many.

It performs important functions in the body:

promote the construction of new cells and the formation of intercellular connections;
provides an immune response to external or internal stimuli;
forms colloid-osmotic (oncotic) blood pressure;
takes part in the creation of enzymes that play a special role in biochemical reactions.

Increased protein in urine: causes

The presence of low levels of protein is due to diet, physical activity and minor health problems.

If an infectious, inflammatory or other pathological process occurs in the filtration system of the kidneys, then various inclusions are detected in the urine, including globulins - large protein compounds.

It is important to find out what protein in urine means.

The excretion of large amounts of it in the urine is called proteinuria. If more than 3 g of protein is excreted from the body per day, then this is a reason to suspect dysfunction of the glomerular renal system. Proteinuria that lasts more than three months indicates chronic kidney disease. Losing more than 3.5 g of protein per day can lead to nephrotic syndrome (mass swelling and increased cholesterol levels).

What else causes protein in urine?

In addition, the loss of proteins may be due to a violation of their reabsorption (reabsorption into the blood) in the proximal renal tubule. There are several reasons for this condition:

infectious or inflammatory processes;
side effects from some medications;
nephrological diseases in the chronic stage, etc.

People at risk for high levels of protein in urine include:

people over 65 years of age;
patients with diabetes;
children with weak immune systems;
obese patients various types;
women during pregnancy;
athletes.

It should be noted that in men and women the reasons for the increase in protein concentration in the urine are almost the same, with the exception of cases when such a condition is provoked by pathologies reproductive system.

Indications for analysis

Why protein appeared in the urine should be determined by a doctor. The analysis is prescribed if the following clinical symptoms are present:

pain, discomfort, itching or burning when urinating;
feeling of insufficient emptying of the bladder;
pain in joints and bones, bone fragility (due to loss of protein);
constant weakness and drowsiness, increased fatigue;
frequent attacks of dizziness, fainting (may indicate accumulation of calcium in the blood);
pathological swelling;
numbness or tingling of fingers;
attacks of fever or chills, hyperthermia without an established cause;
chronic anemia (low hemoglobin);
cramps, muscle spasms;
digestive disorders (dyspeptic symptoms, appetite disturbances) without an established cause.

In addition, testing for protein in urine is prescribed for the following diseases:

systemic pathologies of any form;
diagnosis of diseases of the genitourinary system: cystitis, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, renal failure, prostatitis, glomerulonephritis;
diabetes mellitus;
childhood infections and diseases;
in the diagnosis of myeloma (oncological tumor of plasma cells);
monitoring the effectiveness of intoxication therapy (poisoning with snake venom, heavy metals, drug overdose);
oncological diseases of the genitourinary system;
injuries or massive burns;
congestive heart failure;
prolonged hypothermia of the body;
recent surgery.

Physiological proteinuria

In cases of slight or one-time excess of protein norms in the urine, functional (physiological) causes should first be excluded. Among them are the following:

hyperthermia not associated with a disease of the genitourinary system;
long-term physical activity, sports activities, heavy lifting;
prolonged hypothermia;
a sharp change in position immediately before delivery of the biomaterial;
emotional stress;
long-term stay “on your feet”;
dehydration, insufficient fluid intake;
taking medications that can increase the concentration of protein in the urine;
allergic reactions;
pregnancy period (the increasing size of the uterus puts pressure on the kidneys, which affects their filtration function).

Increased by nutrition

So, we continue to understand why protein appears in the urine. This may occur due to the consumption of such products:

protein without heat treatment (raw eggs, dairy products, fish and meat);
confectionery, sweets;
too hot, salty or spicy dishes;
alcoholic drinks, including beer;
vinegar-based sauces;
large volume of mineral water.

Pathological proteinuria

If, when deciphering a general urine test in adults, an increase in indicators is detected again, it is advisable to exclude the following pathologies: infectious disease in the genitourinary system, inflammation of the kidneys, bladder, renal failure, cystitis, nephrotic syndrome, nephritis, disruption of the renal tubules, diseases of the reproductive system in women and men, oncological pathologies of the kidneys, leukemia (blood cancer), cysts of the genitourinary system, myeloma. Pathologies affecting the transmission of impulses (concussion, epilepsy, stroke), sickle cell anemia, heart and vascular diseases are also excluded.

Renal and extrarenal proteinuria

The reasons for increased protein in the urine are not always easy to determine.

Renal proteinuria is of two types - tubular and tubular.

Tubular proteinuria is observed with:

immunosuppressive therapy;
acute interstitial nephritis;
Sjögren's syndrome;
long-term use of NSAIDs;
cryoglobulinemia (presence of cryoglobulin proteins in the blood that cause systemic vasculitis).

Glomerular proteinuria, which occurs due to damage to the glomeruli, which is observed in various forms of glomerulonephritis.

Extrarenal proteinuria can be prerenal or postrenal. Overflow proteinuria develops as a result of increased production of atypical low molecular weight proteins, causing acute kidney damage. It occurs in diseases such as rhabdomyolysis (the process of destruction of muscle cells) and multiple myeloma.

The causes of postrenal proteinuria are infections, urolithiasis, various tumor processes in the kidneys. What does protein in urine mean in women?

Proteinuria while expecting a baby

Reference values during this period are 0-0.3 g/l 2. What causes protein in the urine of pregnant women?

If these indicators exceed acceptable standards, then the patient’s risk of developing gestational pyelonephritis increases. Increased level in the later stages (3rd trimester) is a reason to suspect gestosis, which is a serious complication manifested by increased pressure, massive swelling and muscle cramps. With pathological proteinuria, a pregnant woman experiences a general deterioration in health, chronic drowsiness and weakness, and high blood pressure. At the same time, the likelihood of developing oxygen starvation of the fetus, developmental disorders, miscarriage and premature birth increases. In addition, in the case of severe proteinuria, the likelihood of intrauterine fetal death increases 5 times.

Interpretation of a general urine test in adults

Deciphering requires the necessary medical qualifications, so experts do not recommend interpreting the results independently. This laboratory test is highly informative, easy to carry out and is considered fundamental in the diagnosis of any disease.

Parameters included in the general urine test:

organoleptic indicators (smell, color, volume, foaminess, transparency);
physicochemical values (acidity, density);
biochemical indicators (sugar, protein, ketone bodies, urobilin);
microscopic examination of sediment (leukocytes, erythrocytes, epithelial cells, casts, bacteria, salt crystals, fungi).

Only a doctor can evaluate the results obtained during the study and take into account the characteristics of the patient’s condition.

Why might it be necessary to determine protein in urine?

Diagnostics when the indicator deviates from the norm

As already mentioned, there is daily norm protein excreted in the urine, so any deviations from it should be the basis for a thorough medical examination. In order to accurately determine whether there is a particular pathology in the body, you should contact a nephrologist or urologist. If protein is detected in the urine in late pregnancy, then not only a doctor in the field of nephrology or urology, but also a therapist or gynecologist can solve this problem. Diagnostic measures include the following mandatory procedures:

Ultrasound of the bladder and kidneys;
MRI of the kidneys;
radioisotope diagnostics for the presence of various urological diseases;
urodynamic diagnostics;
uroflowmetry.

In addition to instrumental diagnostic techniques, the patient must undergo a urine test for traces of albumin and protein.

How to lower the level?

The treatment course to eliminate this problem depends on the factors that provoked it. If an increased protein content in the urine is detected, specialized therapy is prescribed aimed at eliminating the underlying disease. Due to the fact that this condition has many causes, a comprehensive diagnosis is necessary. First of all, the urinary system is examined.

Most often, when there is a high protein content in the urine, experts prescribe the following medications:

antibiotics, the action of which should be aimed at eliminating a specific pathogen, previously determined using laboratory tests;
anti-inflammatory drugs;
medications that can lower blood pressure;
antihistamines;
cytostatics (if necessary);
glucocorticosteroids;
painkillers, if the patient experiences severe pain.

As a rule, after eliminating the underlying pathology that provoked a change in protein levels in the urine, given value normalizes.

Preparing for analysis

In order for the analysis to give the most accurate result, the patient needs to know how to collect urine to detect daily proteinuria.

For urine, you need to purchase a special container. 24 hours before urine collection, you should avoid spicy, fatty, rich and salty foods, as well as vegetables. citrus fruits, fatty foods. In addition, you should postpone taking medications for some time. Women of reproductive age should wait for urine tests if they are menstruating during this period.

When collecting urine, the genitals must be clean, otherwise the result will be unreliable. After collecting the liquid, cover the jar tightly with a lid and place it in a cool, dark place. The biomaterial can be stored for a maximum of two hours before testing.

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