Increased protein in the urine, which in medical language sounds like proteinuria, is one of the signs of the development of pathology, which is associated with impaired renal function.
However, a persistent and significant increase in a laboratory value is considered a clear symptom, while a single and mild increase in values is not considered a deviation, but requires clarification of the cause that led to it.
There are certain standards according to which the protein content in the urine is determined, and for children and pregnant women they are slightly higher than for people belonging to other categories.
In the first group, such features are explained by the protracted process of kidney formation, and in the second group, by an increased load on the organs of the urinary system. In both cases, it is necessary to conduct a full examination in order to exclude the presence of pathologies.
What is protein and its role in the body?
Protein, or the so-called protein (in general urine analysis is designated PRO), is the main material present in all components of the structure of the human body, not excluding its biological fluids. With high-quality filtration capacity of the kidneys, protein is present in minimal quantities in primary urine.
Then reabsorption (reabsorption) of this substance occurs in the renal tubules. If a person’s kidneys are healthy, and the liquid part of the blood (plasma, serum) does not contain too much protein, secondary urine, that is, that which is excreted by the body, also does not have high concentrations of it or there is no protein at all.
The reasons why the indicator increases can be both physiological and pathological. Protein is involved in most processes occurring in the body, but its most basic functions are as follows:
- maintaining colloid osmotic blood pressure;
- formation of the immune system response to irritants;
- ensuring the implementation of intercellular connections and the formation of new cells;
- creation of bioactive substances that promote biochemical reactions in the body.
All of the above about protein indicates the importance of this component for humans, so it is necessary to consume it in sufficient quantities. But elevated levels are a very dangerous symptom that should never be ignored.
Why does the level of protein in urine increase?
The filtration mechanism, as a result of which urine is formed, is represented in the form of the renal glomeruli. It is a kind of filter that delays the penetration of large protein molecules into primary urine. This means that low molecular weight proteins (up to 20,000 Da) easily pass through the glomerular barrier, while high molecular weight proteins (from 65,000 Da) do not have this ability.
Most of the proteins are reabsorbed into the bloodstream through the proximal renal tubules, which is why only a small amount is excreted in urine. Normally, approximately 20% of the excreted protein is low molecular weight immunoglobulins, and the remaining 80% is equally composed of albumin and mucoproteins secreted in the distal tubules of the kidney.
Reference! On average, a healthy body loses 40-80 mg per day. Proteinuria is diagnosed when excretion exceeds 150 mg per day, and, as a rule, the bulk of the excreted protein is albumin.
Types of proteinuria
As mentioned above, a condition in which the protein content in urine increases is not always a sign of the presence of pathology. Quite often, proteinuria can be diagnosed in some situations caused by physiological factors. According to statistics, high protein in the urine is observed in 17 percent of the population, but only in 2 percent of cases is it a signal of the development of a dangerous disease.
Composition of total protein excreted by the kidneys
Functional
In most situations, proteinuria is regarded as benign (functional). This deviation can be observed in quite a few physiological conditions of the human body, for example:
- stress,
- allergy,
- fever,
- dehydration (dehydration),
- infectious disease in the acute phase, etc.
The increase in protein content in this case is not due to impaired renal function, and the loss of the described substance is small. One of the types of benign proteinuria is considered to be postural (orthostatic), when the protein level increases only after walking or standing for a long time, and does not exceed the norm in a horizontal position.
As a result, with postural proteinuria, an increase in concentration will not be detected in a urine test for total protein collected in the morning, while a study of the daily volume will reveal an increase in this indicator. This type of physiological abnormality is observed in 3-5% of people whose age does not exceed 30 years.
Protein levels may increase due to its excessive formation or increased renal filtration. In this case, the content of the described substance entering the filtrate exceeds the reabsorption capacity of the tubules, and as a result is excreted in urine.
This type of proteinuria is called “overflow” and is not caused by kidney pathologies. It can occur with hemoglobinuria (hemoglobin in the urine) resulting from intravascular hemolysis, myoglobinuria (with muscle damage), multiple myeloma and other pathologies of plasma cells.
With such a variation in proteinuria, it is not albumin that is found in the secreted fluid, but some specific type of specific protein (for example, in hemolysis - hemoglobin, Bence-Jones protein - in myeloma). To detect the presence and determine the characteristics of a specific protein, a 24-hour urine test is performed.
Pathological
A large amount of protein detected by a laboratory analyzer often means kidney disease, and this symptom is observed in almost all disorders of their functions. And, as a rule, it is a stably present characteristic symptom.
According to the mechanism of development, renal (renal) proteinuria is usually classified into glomerular and tubular. If the factor that increases protein in urine is damage to the integrity of the basement membrane, then such proteinuria is called glomerular (glomerular).
Glomerular
The glomerular basement membrane is the main functional and anatomical barrier to the passage of large molecules. That is why, if its structural integrity is violated, proteins easily enter the primary filtrate and are excreted from the body.
Damage to the integrity of the basement membrane can occur as a primary developing pathology (with idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis) or be a secondary type of disease, that is, a complication of the existing disease. A common example of the second case is diabetic nephropathy, which occurs against the background of worsening diabetes mellitus.
Compared to tubular proteinuria, glomerular proteinuria is a more common pathology. Diseases that develop as a result of disruption of the integrity of the basement membrane and are accompanied by glomerular proteinuria are the following:
- lipoid nephrosis;
- focal segmental glomerular sclerosis;
- idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis and other primary glomerulopathies.
In addition, this list also includes secondary glomerulopathies, such as:
- diabetes;
- poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis;
- connective tissue diseases and others.
The norm of protein in urine and possible deviations
This type is also typical for kidney damage caused by the use of a certain number of drugs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, penicialamine, lithium, opiates, etc.). But the most common cause of its occurrence is diabetes mellitus and its most common complication is diabetic nephropathy.
The initial degree of nephropathy is characterized by slightly increased protein excretion (30-300 mg/day), which is called microalbuminuria. With subsequent progression of the pathology, a lot of protein is released (macroalbuminuria). Depending on the severity of glomerular proteinuria, the amount of the excreted substance changes, and its content in the urine can exceed 2 g per day and often reach 5 g.
Tubular
When the reabsorption of protein in the renal tubules is impaired, tubular proteinuria develops. In this case, the loss of protein is not as great as with glomerular proteinuria, and is no more than 2 g per day. Tubular proteinuria accompanies diseases such as:
- Fanconi syndrome;
- urate nephropathy;
- hypertensive nephroangiosclerosis;
- mercury and lead poisoning;
- drug-induced nephropathy due to the use of certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or antibacterial drugs.
In addition, the concentration of the described substance increases in inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract (urethritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis), renal cell carcinoma and neoplasms of the bladder. But the most common cause of tubular proteinuria is considered to be hypertension and the complication that develops against it - hypertensive nephroangiosclerosis.
Regular loss of large amounts of protein with secreted fluid (over 3-3.5 g/l) causes a decrease in the indicator (hypoalbuminemia), a decrease in oncotic pressure, and is also a factor causing the appearance of edema.
Severe proteinuria is a poor prognosis for chronic renal failure (CKD). At the same time, a persistent minor loss does not have characteristic symptoms, which is why it is dangerous for the cardiovascular system.
Reference! The danger of microalbuminuria is the increased risk of coronary heart disease and such serious pathology as myocardial infarction.
Symptoms of proteinuria
It is quite difficult to determine that the levels of protein in the urine have increased without a medical education, so in case of any ailments you should immediately go to the hospital. The doctor, in turn, seeing some manifestations, can make assumptions regarding the presence of proteinuria and the developing disease that led to it.
So, the symptoms accompanying proteinuria are as follows:
- constant weakness, excessive drowsiness, lethargy;
- joint and bone pain (caused by decreased protein levels);
- tingling and numbness of fingers, cramps, muscle spasms;
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or causeless increase in appetite;
- dizziness and sudden attacks of loss of consciousness;
- feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder;
- pain or discomfort, itching, burning when urinating;
- attacks of fever, chills;
- chronic anemia (anemia);
- swelling.
In addition, a urine test for protein content must be taken when:
- diabetes mellitus (for diagnostic purposes and monitoring therapy);
- placement for medical examination, as well as during pregnancy;
- diagnosis of diseases of the genitourinary organs, multiple myeloma;
- systemic diseases of acute and chronic form;
- neoplasms in the genitourinary organs;
- prolonged hypothermia;
- extensive burns and injuries.
Changes in the physical characteristics of urine, such as daily volume, transparency, odor, sediment, and the presence of blood, are also reasons for analysis, since they indicate the presence of abnormalities.
A urine test for total protein is performed in many situations to make a diagnosis or monitor a patient's condition.
Norms and methods of diagnosis
Reference values for women and men are when analyzing the morning portion - 0.033 g/l, daily volume - 0.06 g/l, for pregnant women - 0.2-0.3 g/l in the early stages and up to 0.5 g /l on later ones. In children, the protein norm differs slightly from adults, and this is due to the fact that their urinary system is still in a state of formation. Therefore, for a child, a sign of health is considered to be 0.037 g/l in the morning portion, and 0.07 g/l in the daily amount.
You should know that the presence of protein is shown only by laboratory urine tests, and it is not possible to visually diagnose it. In this case, it is very important to correctly collect the secreted liquid for analysis, that is, follow all the recommendations. It is best to use a sterile container for the morning portion so that you know that there are no atypical impurities in it.
Reference! An infant should collect urine in a urine bag specially designed for this purpose, and under no circumstances should it be taken from a diaper or diaper.
If a one-time increase in the indicator is detected in a general urine test, it is necessary to find out what caused its increase. That is, to conduct a differentiated diagnosis of functional and pathological forms. To do this, you will need to collect an anamnesis, and an orthostatic test is performed in children and adolescents.
Detection of proteinuria during a repeated urine test after a certain period of time gives the right to assume that the disorder is persistent. If you suspect the presence of pathology, it is recommended to undergo the necessary laboratory tests and seek advice from specialized specialists, for example, a urologist, nephrologist, gynecologist, etc.
An ultrasound of the kidneys, bladder and reproductive organs may be prescribed. Laboratory methods include general and biochemical urine tests, Nechiporenko testing, bacterial culture, analysis of daily volume and specific proteins.
Correction methods
What to do if the test shows proteinuria? The first step is to find out the reason for the increase in the indicator. If it is slightly elevated and no pathologies are found, then a simple diet will help get rid of excess protein. Your diet should be structured so that plant foods predominate over animal foods, and the latter must be thoroughly cooked.
Foods to limit if you have proteinuria
In this way, it will be possible to remove protein from food, which, in turn, will help reduce its intake into the body. You will also need to reduce salt intake, eliminate alcohol, pickled, fatty and smoked foods.
For meat, it is recommended to eat chicken and fish, since they contain less protein than other animal products. With mild proteinuria, you can treat protein in the urine with folk remedies, which is not only healthy, but also tasty.
The most common way to lower its level is cranberry juice, rowan, pureed with sugar, flower and meadow honey. In addition, a decoction of pumpkin seeds, parsley root and other well-tested ancestral methods are successfully used.
If persistent severe proteinuria is detected, the cause of which is a disease, you should immediately seek qualified medical help. If you do not start treating the disease in a timely manner, serious complications may soon develop that pose a threat not only to the patient’s health, but also to his life.
A test for protein in urine is used to diagnose many diseases. Protein in urine, or proteinuria, is a condition in which protein molecules are found in the urine. Normally they should not be there, or they may be present in trace amounts. The presence of residual protein in a urine test is normal.
Normally, in a healthy person, protein excretion in the urine does not exceed 8 mg/dL or 0.033 g/L per day.
In healthy people, protein in the urine should be absent or detected in extremely small quantities. Protein in the urine is diagnosed as proteinuria: this is a pathological phenomenon that requires consultation with a doctor and a number of additional examinations. Protein in the urine can appear for various reasons.
Protein in urine or so-called proteinuria, this is a condition when there are protein molecules in the urine that are absent normally in the urine or are found in very small quantities. Proteins are building materials that make up our entire body, including muscles, bones, internal organs, hair and even nails. Protein is also involved in a huge number of processes occurring in our body at the cellular and molecular level. An important function of proteins is to support oncotic pressure, thereby ensuring homeostasis in the body. In the renal glomeruli of a healthy person, a relatively small amount of low molecular weight plasma proteins is constantly filtered. There is usually no or very little protein in urine. Thus, protein in the urine is an undoubted sign that the function of the kidney filters - the so-called vascular glomeruli - is impaired.
Analysis on protein V urine designed to determine the amount contained V urine proteins such as albumin.
Protein in urine(proteinuria) - excretion of proteins in the urine exceeding normal (30-50 mg/day) values, usually a sign of kidney damage.
The normal result of a routine urine test is a urine protein level of 0 to 8 mg/dL. The normal daily urine test for protein is less than 150 mg in 24 hours.
Acceptable rate squirrel V urine during pregnancy, which doctors do not classify as symptoms of any threats - content squirrel up to 0.14 g/l.
Types of protein in urine (proteinuria)
There is a classification of proteinuria by degree depending on the amount of protein excreted in the urine in milligrams per day
- Microalbuminuria (30-150 mg)
- Mild proteinuria (150-500 mg)
- Moderate proteinuria (500-1000 mg)
- Severe proteinuria (1000-3000 mg)
- Jade (more than 3500 mg)
During the day, more protein is excreted in urine than at night. Protein can also be caused by vaginal discharge, menstrual blood, or sperm entering the urine.
Causes of protein in urine
Below are the most common causes of protein in the urine. Protein in the urine can be evidence of the following diseases:
- Multiple myeloma causes the appearance of a certain protein in the urine called M protein or myeloma protein.
- Systemic diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) - can manifest as grosserulonephritis or lupus nephritis, Good-Pascher syndrome, etc.
- Diabetes. The protein found in urine in diabetes mellitus is albumin.
- Long-term high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Infections. Inflammatory processes in the kidneys
- Chemotherapy
- Tumors of the genitourinary system
- Poisoning
- Kidney injuries
- Long-term cooling
- burns
Determination of protein concentration in urine is a mandatory and important element of urine testing.
Symptoms when protein appears in urine
Proteinuria- the appearance of protein in the urine is a common, almost obligatory symptom of kidney or urinary tract damage. Sometimes proteinuria is accompanied by swelling, pus or blood in the urine, but most often proteinuria occurs without symptoms.
As a rule, microalbuminuria or mild proteinuria is not accompanied by clinical manifestations. Often there are no or mild symptoms. Below are some symptoms that are more common with long-standing proteinuria.
- Bone pain due to loss of large amounts of protein (more common with multiple myeloma)
- Fatigue as a consequence of anemia
- Dizziness, drowsiness as a result of increased calcium levels in the blood
- Nephropathy. May manifest as protein deposits in fingers and toes
- Change in urine color. Redness or darkening of urine due to the presence of blood cells. Acquiring a whitish tint due to the presence of a large amount of albumin.
- Chills and fever with inflammation
- Nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite
Determination of protein in urine
Protein in the urine and microalbuminuria are diagnosed by determining the protein in 24-hour urine (over a 24-hour period). Collecting urine for 24 hours can be very inconvenient for the patient, especially in everyday life. Thus, doctors resort to determining protein in a single portion of urine using electrophoresis.
A laboratory test to determine the amount of protein or albumin in the urine is especially recommended in people with kidney failure and diabetes.
If a urine test reveals an increased amount of protein, a repeat test should be performed after 1-2 weeks. If the second test confirms the presence of protein in the urine, then this confirms the presence of permanent proteinuria and the next step should be to determine kidney function.
Your doctor will recommend that you have a blood chemistry test to determine your levels of nitrogenous bases, namely urea and creatinine. These are waste products of the body that are normally eliminated by the kidneys, and if urea and creatinine in the blood are elevated, this indicates the presence of functional disorders in this organ.
How to treat protein in urine
If protein in the urine is a consequence of diabetes or hypertension, then it is certainly necessary to treat the original cause. In case of diabetes, your doctor will recommend you to follow a diet, and if the diet is unsuccessful, he will select the necessary drug therapy. With regard to hypertension, it is important to control blood pressure. There are a large number of drugs available on the pharmaceutical market for these diseases. Undoubtedly, the key to success is a correctly selected treatment regimen. It is important to control blood pressure levels no higher than 140/80.
It is also necessary to control the consumption of sugar, salt, and the amount of protein consumed.
Save on social networks:The presence of protein in the urine, as detected by the test, should make the patient wary. Of course, this may be a temporary phenomenon, in no way connected with anything serious, however, most often it indicates diseases of the internal organs. In some cases, even about a malignant tumor. In order not to panic ahead of time, but also not to let everything take its course, you should figure out why there may be more protein in the urine than normal.
Causes of high protein
In medicine, an increase in protein levels in the urine is called. This process can indicate a variety of pathological processes, ranging from burns or injuries to systemic pathologies.
As for reasons not related to kidney disease in a man or woman, the presence of proteinuria may be a consequence of the increase in body temperature that accompanies colds. In addition, the substance can be detected due to intense physical activity or due to excessive consumption of products containing it.
Normally, protein in the urine should not exceed 3 ml/l. But an increase in its level does not immediately indicate a pathological process. You should understand what protein in urine means in healthy people. This factor may be due to the following reasons:
- increased physical activity;
- emotional overstrain, stress;
- allergic manifestations;
- physiological hypothermia;
- in newborns, increased protein is observed in the first days of life;
- recent colds and infections;
- eating raw eggs, dairy products and other foods that contain large amounts of this substance;
- some pharmaceuticals;
- There may also be traces of protein in the urine during pregnancy, due to the growth of the fetus, which puts pressure on the kidneys.
However, a pathological increase in protein in the urine may also be observed, what does this mean? The occurrence of proteinuria often indicates a malfunction of the kidneys and other organs that control the excretion of urine from the body. Such pathological processes include:
- infectious diseases that damage the renal tubules and glomeruli, resulting in the development of glomerulonephritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis;
- diseases that disrupt the conduction of nerve impulses: stroke, concussion, epilepsy, etc.;
- diabetes;
- and other neoplasms in the kidneys and urinary tract;
- inflammation of the reproductive and urinary system;
- and other chronic pathologies of organs;
- leukemia;
- heart failure;
- multiple myeloma.
It is also important to note that protein in urine in men and women has several stages:
- the daily yield of the substance does not exceed 1 g. – light;
- 1–3 gr. – average;
- more than 3 gr. – heavy.
Symptoms of diseases
Slightly increased protein in the urine, as a rule, does not manifest itself in any way. Only a prolonged increase in proteins can affect the patient’s condition. In this case, the following may be noted:
- swelling is one of the main signs of protein loss;
- lethargy, weakness, loss of appetite;
- increased blood pressure, which signals development;
- muscle cramps and pain;
- increase in body temperature.
Some changes also occur in the urine itself:
- foam, especially when shaking the urine, this sign unmistakably indicates proteinuria;
- whitish sediment and turbidity, which indicates an increased concentration of protein and;
- a brown tint that indicates ;
- ammonia odor, which may be a consequence of diabetes.
Severe kidney disease, which increases protein in the urine, also increases the number of red and white blood cells.
Increased protein during pregnancy
If the kidneys fully cope with the load placed on them during pregnancy, then the norm of protein in the urine will not be disturbed. But even its increase does not indicate the presence of a serious illness in a woman.
Increasing the substance to 3 g. - a completely normal physiological phenomenon that does not lead to abnormalities in either the pregnant woman or the fetus.
In later stages it is even higher and can reach 5 g/l. This should in no way bother a woman if she has no alarming symptoms. However, proteinuria, accompanied by high blood pressure, swelling, and toxicosis, should make a woman wary and undergo the necessary examination.
What are the dangers of high protein levels?
From a technical point of view, an increase in protein in the urine is a consequence of its loss from the body's cells. But its functions in the body are quite significant. With the help of protein, structural, protective, hormonal and other processes important for life occur, the loss of which will negatively affect the functioning of the entire organism.
Therefore, increased protein in the urine in men and women, which is accompanied by clinical symptoms, is subject to careful examination and immediate treatment.
Rules for taking a urine test
Urine is donated in the morning on an empty stomach. This is called a screening test. Improper urine collection or poor hygiene before taking the test may indicate the presence of a false high protein in the urine.
If the protein in the urine test exceeds the norm, an additional examination is carried out - a daily collection.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the patient must undergo a number of additional examinations. If the examination reveals a lot of protein and leukocytes, most likely we are talking about an inflammatory process. In the presence of protein and red blood cells, in most cases, stone passage or dysfunction of the urinary system is diagnosed.
Treatment
Increased protein in the urine in men and women can cause its decrease in the blood. This phenomenon is accompanied by edema and increased blood pressure. In this case, it is important to seek medical help immediately. The doctor, after making an accurate diagnosis, will draw up a competent treatment regimen, which will depend on the cause of proteinuria. Increased protein in the urine, after identifying the cause of the pathology, is treated with drugs from various groups:
- hypotensive;
- decongestants;
- antibacterial agents;
- glucocorticosteroids;
- cytostatics;
- drugs that reduce blood clotting drugs.
If necessary, drug treatment can be supplemented with hemosorption and plasmapheresis. These are methods of blood purification.
To restore the normal level of protein in urine in women and men, it is necessary to eat properly, since proteinuria is caused by excessive consumption of fatty, spicy and salty foods. Therefore, the diet should include some restrictions:
- the daily amount of salt consumed should not exceed 2 grams;
- monitor the volume of urine excreted against the background of drinking liquid. The drinking norm for proteinuria is 1 liter per day;
- eat as many fruits and vegetables (especially beets), raisins, milk, rice as possible;
- limit consumption of meat and fish for at least 2 months.
To achieve a positive result, prepare a decoction that has an anti-inflammatory effect. Tricolor violet, drop cap grass and black poplar buds are mixed in equal proportions. A tablespoon of the mixture is poured into a glass of boiling water and left for 30 minutes. Drink in several doses throughout the day. Optimal results are achieved after a three-week course.
Prevention
The most important thing is to prevent the development of chronic proteinuria. In this regard, it is important to follow preventive measures that will help avoid the development of serious causes of protein in the urine.
If changes in urine are detected that are characteristic of proteinuria, it is important to immediately visit a urologist and undergo a urine test. Timely treatment of proteinuria will save the patient from the severe consequences of the pathology.
Often the cause of protein in the urine is diabetes or hypertension. In this case, it is important to constantly monitor blood pressure, reduce salt, sugar and protein intake as much as possible, and take the necessary medications.
The presence of pyelonephritis and other systemic kidney pathologies indicates that the patient should be constantly monitored by a urologist.
The ideal level of protein in urine is up to 3 mg/l. The resulting proteinuria (the appearance of protein in the urine) can also be “showed” by tests of people whose kidneys are functioning normally: then it is called a temporary physiological pathology. Why might there be increased protein in the urine and what to do about it?
Protein in urine can also appear in healthy people
Protein in urine, reasons
Reasons for the appearance of protein in urine:
- excessive consumption of protein-rich foods;
- increased physical activity;
- psycho-emotional stress;
- hypothermia of the body;
- in pregnant women (most often in the 3rd trimester) - due to compression of the kidneys due to an enlarged uterus;
- use of certain pharmacological agents;
- incorrect urine collection for OAM.
If a person is healthy, one only needs to stabilize the protein content in urine to normal. However, proteinuria can also be pathological when kidney function is impaired.
This type of proteinuria can result from the following ailments:
- hypertonic disease;
- in representatives of the stronger sex - inflammation of the prostate gland;
- infectious diseases;
- systemic diseases;
- intoxication;
- diabetes;
- inflammatory process in the kidneys caused by;
- cystitis;
- burns;
- obesity of the 3rd and 4th degree and many other diseases.
Kidney disease is one of the causes of increased protein in the urine In the case when this pathology is temporary, everything is often completely asymptomatic. However, if proteinuria is pathological, it manifests itself in the form of an illness that contributes to the appearance of protein in urine. Therefore, its symptoms can be characterized by:
- cloudy urine, as well as the so-called. protein flakes in it;
- cramps (often at night), numbness of the fingers of the lower and upper extremities;
- dizziness;
- insomnia;
- anemia, apathy;
- swelling, etc.
If you notice white flakes in your urine, this is a reason to get tested. What are the dangers of increasing the amount of protein in urine?
The influence of proteins on the body's activities is very extensive. With their participation in the cells of the human body, the main processes of life occur.
If proteins are washed out of cells and end up in urine, the loss of such a plan has a very negative impact on both the functioning of certain organs and the body and its vital functions as a whole. And since the types of protein themselves are diverse, the deprivation of certain proteins disrupts the functioning of the corresponding system and “hits” the organs.
Thus, the loss of the simple protein albumin is fraught with the appearance of swelling and hypotension; due to the loss of proteins of the complementary system, resistance to infectious agents practically disappears, etc.
Leaching protein from the body undermines overall health OAM: how to prepare and perform proper urine collection
If the initial TAM indicated an increased protein content, the study should certainly be repeated after 7-10 days.
Perhaps the urine collection was done incorrectly. To avoid this, you must adhere to the following rules in the future.
What should precede urine collection:
- the day before, the day before, you should not eat those foods that can radically affect the change in the color of urine (for example, carrots or beets, some berries);
- exclusion from the menu of sweets, smoked meats, alcoholic drinks and those containing caffeine;
- if at the time of collecting the tests you are taking medications, vitamins or diuretics, you should inform the doctor who referred you for OAM, or simply delay taking the tests.
Urine collection must be done correctly Direct urine collection:
- you should definitely carry out the necessary hygiene procedures;
- biomaterial for analysis is collected in the morning after sleep;
- a couple of seconds after the start of urination, urine is not collected, since only the biomaterial released later is important for laboratory research;
- An exclusively sterile container is used (you can purchase it at any pharmacy);
- Urine collected for research can be stored at temperatures up to 18 ° C and only for about 2 hours.
Protein standards for men, women and children
Protein in female urine should not exceed 1 mg/l. An exception, as mentioned above, is the period of waiting for a child: during this time, the protein level can tend to range from 3 (early periods) to 5 mg/l (late terms).
Protein in the urine of men is considered normal when its level is no higher than 3 mg/l. This indicator is somewhat overestimated compared to women, since representatives of the stronger sex are usually more physically intensive.
The children's norm is 0.033 g/l.
How to decrypt OAM
An increased amount of protein and red blood cells in urine is a sign of kidney disease. In addition, if the red blood cells are fresh, the development of urolithiasis can be suspected.
An increased amount of protein and leukocytes in urine is a likely indication of an inflammatory process in the kidney tissues. Women often experience nausea, pain in the lumbar region, weakness, and fatigue.
Daily urine analysis: collection rules
Daily (another name for daily urine analysis) is the simplest and most accurate way to determine daily proteinuria. A distinctive feature of this analysis is that it requires collecting all urine within 24 hours. The most accurate results in modern laboratories are obtained using special sensitive electronic analyzers.
Your doctor will help you decipher the results. How urine is collected:
- you should take a clean 3-liter jar;
- first - morning (at 6 o'clock) - urine is not collected;
- Subsequent portions of urine are collected until 6 a.m. the next day, then the collected liquid must be shaken, poured into a sterile container (up to 150 ml) and delivered to the appropriate laboratory.
How to decipher a daily urine test for protein
It is worth noting that in just one day a person excretes up to 140 mg of protein in the urine.
Daily proteinuria is classified as follows:
- Moderate - 1000 mg of protein, the cause may be infectious diseases, long-term protein diet.
- Average – 1001–2999 mg of protein, the reasons may be: severe infectious diseases, kidney diseases, purulent processes in the body.
- Severe – 3000 mg of protein or more, causes – intoxication, bilateral kidney damage.
Daily urine collection is the most reliable way to diagnose proteinuria Diagnosis of proteinuria
What the existing protein level in urine can mean (whether it is low or high), only a doctor can answer after conducting a full examination and accurately establishing the diagnosis.
First of all, a detailed medical examination is carried out, as well as a diagnostic interview of the patient to clarify nutritional details. It is also important to find out whether he has recently taken certain medications, and whether he has chronic diseases.
Establishing an accurate diagnosis and clarifying the origin of this pathology requires additional laboratory tests, which necessarily include:
- repeated urine tests - daily and general;
- blood test - biochemical and general;
- immunological studies;
- Ultrasound of the kidneys.
If the result is poor, the doctor prescribes other tests Protein in urine during pregnancy
The appearance of 0.03–0.3 g of protein during the day indicates a probable onset in the expectant mother; This is a common occurrence during pregnancy.
1.0–3.0 g of protein per day in the urine analysis of a pregnant woman (3rd and 4th trimesters) is already a manifestation of a severe complication, which is manifested by swelling, cramps, and high blood pressure.
In both cases, the pregnant patient is shown a 24-hour test, as well as a general urine test (repeated), a Zimnitsky urine test (prescribed for suspected renal failure and kidney inflammation) and kidney tests. If all these measures do not allow us to establish the exact cause of the appearance of protein in urine, then in the first case the pregnant patient should be under constant supervision of a nephrologist.
And in the second situation, when a woman expecting a child, in addition to proteinuria, is bothered by all of the listed symptoms, treatment in a hospital is indicated. Since her condition may indicate the development of late toxicosis, which poses a danger to both the life of the baby and the woman herself.
Protein in the urine of a woman who has given birth, causes of pathology
Deviations from the norm may occur due to:
- pyelonephritis;
- glomerulonephritis;
- nephropathy.
The danger of this situation is that women who have given birth often do not pay attention, for example, to nagging pain in the lower back.
After childbirth, protein levels may increase due to:
- incorrect collection of material for research; the reason for this may be postpartum discharge that gets into the urine;
- labor itself - the mother’s body experiences enormous physical stress during pushing, which naturally affects the activity of the kidneys;
- gestosis is a complication of the gestation period. In this case, a huge difference (20 times) in deviation from the norm is possible. The situation with stabilization of protein content in urine after childbirth is purely individual; this period can range from several days to a week or more.
Incorrectly collected urine can negatively affect the test result. Elevated protein in children
The causes of this pathology in children are the same as in adults. Outwardly this manifests itself as follows:
- sweating;
- weakness;
- partial or complete refusal of the child to eat;
- nausea, cases of vomiting are also common;
- chills;
- drowsiness;
- dizziness;
- pain in muscles and joints.
It is possible to reduce the amount of protein in a child’s urine only by eliminating the cause of its occurrence.
At the same time, according to pediatricians, the appearance of protein in a child should not plunge parents into panic. Because, for example, in newborns, proteinuria is considered normal and, in addition, they often react in a similar way to overfeeding. But due to the difficulties associated with the correct collection of urine from a baby, the protein content in it can be determined erroneously.
Foods that increase protein
Protein in urine may increase if the following predominates in the menu:
- eggs;
- meat and dairy products;
- seafood;
- cottage cheese;
- fish;
- legumes;
- buckwheat.
Of course, such food is very healthy and, in addition to protein, is rich in other useful substances, but they should be consumed in moderation.
If protein foods are predominant in the diet, then you need to drink at least 2 liters of clean water daily and move more. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the kidneys to filter urine normally, which can lead to disruption of the metabolic process and the occurrence of urolithiasis.
It is important to correctly collect the child’s urine before analysis, otherwise there is a risk of getting overestimated protein levels In order to avoid a decrease in the filtering capacity of the kidneys, you should not abuse spicy and salty foods and, of course, alcoholic beverages.
Bence Jones protein
A protein of this type, named after the name of its discoverer in the first half of the 19th century. British doctor Bence-Jones is a protein produced by plasma cells. It is low molecular weight, so it is easily excreted in urine.
Clinical studies have proven that this protein is secreted through the urinary organs and leads to destabilization of the kidneys. If Bence Jones protein is detected in urine, this pathology in most cases indicates the presence of myeloma in the patient.
Detection of this protein becomes possible through an analysis that involves heating urine and adding a special reagent to it.
Therapy
As we found out above, there are many reasons for the appearance of protein in urine. And since proteinuria is only a symptom of the disease, therapy will be aimed at eliminating it. Accordingly, treatment for each patient is selected individually.
If the analysis reveals a high protein content in the urine, it makes sense to contact a nephrologist If you receive a urine test result with a protein level exceeding the norm, you should consult a nephrologist. It is worth noting that self-medication in the case of proteinuria is categorically excluded. In particular, the same therapy using folk remedies is not always effective, and sometimes it is simply unsafe for health.
Drug treatment may include:
- immunosuppressants;
- drugs that lower blood pressure;
- corticosteroids;
- cytostatic drugs;
- ACE inhibitors.
However, the healing mission of folk remedies should also not be forgotten. The doctor may recommend special medications that will help solve the health problem.
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 children
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.
Pathology
- 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-term complex treatment, since they are usually caused by serious pathologies.
In pregnant women
Modern research shows that physiological changes in the body 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 a representative of the fair sex in an interesting position will need comprehensive diagnostics and treatment, naturally taking into account her physiological state, as well as a competent assessment of the risks for the unborn child.
Treatment
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 restrictions on salt and liquids. The groups of drugs used (depending on the cause of the condition) are immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, cytostatics, anti-inflammatory/antirheumatic, antihypertensive drugs, ACE inhibitors, as well as blood purification by hemosorption or plasmaformesis.
If a person has a weak form of proteinuria caused by an orthostatic or functional factor, then medications, as a rule, are not used: normalization of circadian rhythms, correct selection of diet, as well as giving up a number of bad habits are important.
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