What Are The Symptoms Of Protein In The Urine
When your kidneys have only mild damage and you have only small levels of protein in your urine, you will not notice any symptoms.
When your kidneys have more severe damage and you have high levels of protein in your urine, you may start to notice symptoms such as:
- Foamy, frothy or bubbly urine
- Swelling in your hands, feet, belly or face
- Urinating more often
What Is Being Tested
Urine protein tests detect and/or measure protein being released into the urine. Normal urine protein elimination is less than 150 mg/day and less than 30 mg of albumin/day. Elevated levels may be seen temporarily with conditions such as infections, stress, pregnancy, diet, cold exposure, or heavy exercise. Persistent protein in the urine suggests possible kidney damage or some other condition that requires additional testing to
Urine protein tests detect and/or measure protein being released into the urine. Normal urine protein elimination is less than 150 mg/day and less than 30 mg of albumin/day. Elevated levels may be seen temporarily with conditions such as infections, stress, pregnancy, diet, cold exposure, or heavy exercise. Persistent protein in the urine suggests possible kidney damage or some other condition that requires additional testing to determine the cause.
There are several different kinds of urine protein tests, including:
- A semi-quantitative protein dipstick may be performed as part of a urinalysis, generally on a random urine sample.
- The quantity of protein in a 24-hour urine sample may be measured and reported as the amount of protein released per 24 hours.
- The amount of protein in a random urine sample may be measured along with urine creatinine and reported as the ratio of urine protein to creatinine .
Is Proteinuria Always A Sign Of Serious Kidney Disease
No. Proteinuria can occur for a variety of reasons other than serious kidney disease. In fact, bleeding or inflammation in the urinary system is a far more common cause of proteinuria. In these cases, the bladder and lower urinary passage are usually involved, but the prostate gland , or vagina may also contribute.
“Proteinuria can occur for a variety of reasons other than serious kidney disease.”
Proteinuria caused by bleeding or inflammation usually disappears once the underlying disorder is treated.
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What Happens During A Protein In Urine Test
A protein in urine test can be done in the home as well as in a lab. If in a lab, you will receive instructions to provide a “clean catch” sample. The clean catch method includes the following steps:
If at home, you will use a test kit. The kit will include a package of strips for testing and instructions on how to provide a clean catch sample. Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions.
Your health care provider may also request you collect all your urine during a 24-hour period. This “24-hour urine sample test” is used because the amounts of substances in urine, including protein, can vary throughout the day. Collecting several samples in a day may provide a more accurate picture of your urine content.
Protein In Urine Symptoms
Most people who have proteinuria wonât notice any signs, especially in early or mild cases. Over time, as it gets worse, you might have symptoms including:
- Foamy or bubbly pee
- A family history of kidney disease
- African American, Native American, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander descent
Some people get more protein into their urine while standing than while lying down. This condition is called orthostatic proteinuria.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Protein In Urine
When a person first begins to have kidney problems, they may not notice any symptoms. This is why a urine test can be essential to detect protein in the urine, which may indicate early signs of kidney disease.
In addition to proteinuria, symptoms of kidney disease can include:
- Foamy or frothy urine
- Vomiting
- Trouble concentrating
If you are pregnant, protein in urine can also be a sign of preeclampsia, a very dangerous condition that can cause high blood pressure and lead to hospitalization. Additional signs of preeclampsia can include headaches, vision changes, abdominal pain, nausea, decreased urine output, and shortness of breath.
How To Reduce Protein In Urine
This article was co-authored by Robert Dhir, MD. Dr. Robert Dhir is a board certified Urologist, Urological Surgeon, and the Founder of HTX Urology in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Dhirs expertise includes minimally-invasive treatments for enlarged prostate , kidney stone disease, surgical management of urological cancers, and mens health . His practice has been named a Center of Excellence for the UroLift procedure, and is a pioneer in non-surgical procedures for ED using his patented Wave Therapy. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University and was awarded honors in pre-medical studies, urology, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. Dr. Dhir served as chief resident during his urological surgical residency at University of Texas at Houston / MD Anderson Cancer Center in addition to completing his internship in general surgery. Dr. Dhir was voted Top Doctor in Urology for 2018 to 2019, one of the top three Best Rated Urologists in 2019 & 2020 for Houston Texas, and Texas Monthly has named him to the 2019 & 2020 Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars list.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 218,664 times.
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Causes Of Protein In The Urine
Your kidneys, when working properly, filter waste products from your blood. They return protein and other materials that your body needs to function.
Some conditions and diseases can cause the level ofprotein in your urine to rise. Short term conditions that cause protein in the urine can include strenuous exercise, fever, heat or cold exposure and emotional distress. Long term conditions and diseases that can lead to protein in the urine include high blood pressure, kidney infection or disease, heart disease, diabetes, lupus and malaria.If a urine test reveals protein in your urine, your doctor may recommendfurther testing to determine the cause. Test may include a 24-hour urine collection to determine whether the protein in your urine is cause for concern. Your doctor may also follow up with an ultrasound or CT scan to look for issues like kidney stones or a biopsy to see what has caused damage to your kidneys.
Protein In Urine Diagnosis
A urine test called a urinalysis can tell whether you have too much protein in your pee. First, youâll pee into a cup. A lab technician will dip in a stick with chemicals on the end. If the stick changes color, itâs a sign of too much protein. You might need to have this test more than once to find out how long the protein is there.
The technician will also look at the pee under a microscope. Theyâre checking for things that shouldnât be there, which might mean kidney problems. These include red and white blood cells, crystals, and bacteria.
If your doctor suspects kidney disease, you might need to have other urine tests. Your doctor might also order:
- Blood tests. These measure certain chemicals to check how well your kidneys are working.
- Imaging tests. CT scans and ultrasounds can spot kidney stones, tumors, or other blockages.
- A kidney biopsy. Your doctor might need to take a small sample of kidney tissue so a lab technician can look at it under a microscope.
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What Is Normal Amount Of Protein In Urine
Your kidneys continuously filter your blood, excreting waste products while holding back proteins and other important molecules. Healthy kidneys normally allow almost no protein to be lost in the urine 2. Although protein in the urine, or proteinuria, is an important marker of disease, there are benign causes of proteinuria, as well 2.
Too Much Protein In Urine
Medical conditions ranging from fever, dehydration, and stress, to diseases like renal failure, chronic kidney diseases, and glomerulonephritis can cause too much protein in the urine. Find out more about this condition with the help of this article.
Medical conditions ranging from fever, dehydration, and stress, to diseases like renal failure, chronic kidney diseases, and glomerulonephritis can cause too much protein in the urine. Find out more about this condition with the help of this article.
Proteinuria and albuminuria are the medical terms used to signify the condition, where there is an excess amount of protein in the urine. The protein that is mainly found in the urine is albumin, and this is the reason why proteinuria is also known as albuminuria. Kidneys are the main filtering organs of our body, and they remove waste products and excess chemicals from the blood, but retain what is important for the body.
The protein molecules are generally too large to pass through the glomeruli of the kidneys. So, a prolonged case of proteinuria can indicate a problem with the filtering system of the body. Several medical conditions can adversely affect the filtering capacity of the kidneys and give rise to proteinuria. Presence of a small amount of protein in the urine is, however, not an alarming condition.
Go through the various causes and related symptoms for this condition, and its treatment options.
Types of ProteinuriaCauses of Proteinuria
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How Can You Tell If There Is Protein In Your Urine
If you have kidney damage and protein is escaping into your urine, you may notice the following symptoms:
- Swelling in your face, abdomen or hands and feet.
- Urine that appears bubbly, foamy or frothy.
If you notice either of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about the cause and what the best treatment may be. In some cases, the issue will resolve on its own without further treatment.
Why Do I Need This Test
If you are pregnant, you may have this test as a part of routine prenatal care to screen for preeclampsia.
You may also have this test if your healthcare provider thinks that you have protein in your urine. Proteinuria may not cause symptoms in the early stage. But as kidney function worsens, you may notice these symptoms:
Swollen face
Higher level of blood creatinine
You may also need this test if you:
Are diabetic
Have a family member who has chronic kidney disease
Are at risk for kidney disease
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What Causes Protein In Urine
Your kidneys have the job of filtering blood. The filtering takes place in small blood vessels called glomeruli. They transfer waste into the urine and reabsorb protein that stays in the blood.
If your kidneys arent functioning properly, the protein ends up in your urine. This causes high levels of protein in the urine, which is called proteinuria.
The different types of proteinuria are:
- Glomerular proteinuria
CKD can lead to kidney failure if its left to progress.
Testing For Urine Protein
If your kidneys are functioning normally, you should have almost no detectable protein in your urine 2.Several common laboratory tests are used to check for proteinuria, including urine dipsticks for quick screening purposes, automated instruments for a more sensitive measurement of total protein and 24 hour urine collections to look for protein loss over time 12. Although results can vary somewhat between different laboratories, the amount of protein in a random sample of urine is normally less than 8 mg/dL and for a 24-hour collection, less than 150 mg total, according to MedlinePlus 2.
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What Does Excess Protein In The Kidney Mean
Related Articles
The protein you eat has amino acids, which your body needs to build tissues, including bones, muscles, nails and hair. Protein also helps protect your body from infections, produces hormones and helps regulate the amount of fluid in your body. One function of your kidneys is to remove waste products from your blood and leave protein behind for your body to use, so excess protein is a noteworthy danger sign.
Tip
The presence of excess protein in your kidneys, diagnosed through a urine test, is often an early sign of kidney damage.
What Do My Test Results Mean
Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, the method used for the test, and other things. Your test results may not mean you have a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you.
Results are given in milligrams . Normal urine protein in adults is less than 150 mg within a 24-hour period.
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What Other Tests Might I Have Along With This Test
You may also have a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio test. This measures the ratio of protein to waste in your urine. You may have an ultrasound of your kidneys. And you may have blood tests, such as antinuclear antibody or complement. These are done to check for conditions that cause kidney problems.
Urology Of Greater Atlanta
Protein in the urine may be a sign of serious health problems. To reduce protein levels, you need to tackle the problem that is causing the increase. The team of board-certified urologists at Urology of Greater Atlanta diagnose the cause of protein in urine and other conditions such as blood in the urine and provide appropriate treatment when necessary.
This article will cover why there may be a high level of protein in the urine, how it can be diagnosed, and what you can do about it.
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What Does High Protein In Urine Mean
The condition wherein greater than normal amounts of protein are present in the urine is referred to as proteinuria. Read on to know the causes, symptoms and effects of too much protein in urine…
The condition wherein greater than normal amounts of protein are present in the urine is referred to as proteinuria. Read on to know the causes, symptoms and effects of too much protein in urine
Protein is essential for the growth and functioning of the body, and muscle building. Protein molecules are comparatively larger and hence cannot pass through the glomeruli in the kidneys. They are thus retained in the blood when waste materials and toxic substances are filtered by the kidneys. Then how does protein appear in urine? What does high protein in urine mean? Here is an overview of the condition called proteinuria.
When Should Protein In Urine Be Tested
If a pregnant patient’s blood pressure started creeping up, or they presented with neurological symptoms , Dr. Abernathy said she’d check for protein in the urine.
Traditionally, testing for protein in urine was done with an in-office dipstick test. However, this test doesn’t measure an exact amount of protein, just a range from low to high. It’s also vulnerable to daily fluctuations in protein levels. Instead, Dr. Abernathy says that when she has concerns about a patient’s blood pressure she prefers a test of the protein-to-creatinine ratio in urine, along with blood tests to check liver function. If the protein-to-creatinine ratio comes back high, then the gold standard test is a 24-hour urine collection .
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What Can Be Done If The Urinalysis Reveals Proteinuria With Signs Of Bleeding And Inflammation
If the urinalysis reveals inflammation or bleeding, your veterinarian may recommend further testing to look for conditions such as bacterial infection, bladder stones, prostatic disease , vaginitis , and cancer, etc. Following treatment, a repeat urinalysis is recommended to determine if the inflammation, bleeding, and proteinuria have disappeared.
How Often Do I Need To Have A Test For Albuminuria
People who are at increased risk for kidney disease should have this test as part of routine checkups by a healthcare provider. Those at increased risk include:
People with diabetes
People with high blood pressure
People with a family history of kidney failure
People who are 65 years or older
Certain ethnic groups including African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, American Indians
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Who Should Be Tested For Protein In The Urine
If you are part of a group that is considered high risk for kidney disease, your doctor will test your urine for protein as part of your regular preventative care. People who are at risk for kidney disease include:
- Those who are 65 or older.
- Those who have a family history of kidney disease.
- Those who have high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Members of certain ethnic groups, including Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians and African Americans.
How Is The Test Used
Urine protein testing is used to detect excess protein in the urine . A semi-quantitative test such as a dipstick urine protein may be used to screen for the presence of protein in the urine as part of a routine urinalysis.
A urine protein test may be used to screen for, help evaluate, and monitor kidney function and to help detect and diagnose early kidney damage and/or disease. However, the test can also help screen for several other conditions that can cause proteinuria.
If slight to moderate amounts of protein are detected, then a repeat urinalysis and dipstick protein may be performed at a later time to see if there is still protein in the urine or if it has become undetectable.
If there is a large amount of protein in the first sample, repeat testing will be ordered. If increased levels of urine protein are observed in follow-up specimens, then a 24-hour urine protein may be ordered along with certain blood tests. Since the dipstick method primarily measures the protein albumin, and if follow-up, repeat urine samples are positive, a 24-hour urine test also may be ordered to obtain more detailed information.
Either a 24-hour urine protein or a random protein to creatinine ratio may be used to monitor a person with known kidney disease or damage. A dipstick urine protein and/or a protein to creatinine ratio may be used to screen people on a regular basis when they are taking a medication that may affect their kidney function.
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