Proteinuria is manifested by the presence of protein in the urine. As proteinuria does not give any obvious symptoms, it can be diagnosed during periodic tests or when there is a clear deficiency of protein in the body. Deficiency signals vary depending on the protein that appears in the urine.
Proteinuria(proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome) is the presence of protein in the urine, caused by physiological causes, e.g. increased physical exertion ( physiological proteinuria ) or caused by pathological causes ( pathological proteinuria ), e.g. serious kidney diseases. The body naturally excretes proteins such as albumin, globulins, Tamm-Horsfall protein (uromodulin), kappa and lambda immunoglobulin light chains, proximal tubular brush border antigens, secretory IgA and urokinase by the urinary route. A he althy person's urine may contain up to 150 mg of these proteins per day (up to 300 mg in adolescence). The urine of a he althy person should not contain proteins, therefore on the printout of the urine analysis the protein position should be zero.
Types of proteinuria
- functional - caused by overexertion, heart failure, glomerular impairment, frostbite, fever
Foamy urine can be seen with proteinuria.
- orthostatic - occurring after prolonged standing in a standing position
- tubular - caused by a lack of protein reabsorption and damage to the renal tubules
- glomerular - occurring in diseases of the glomeruli
- microalbuminuria - in the early stages of kidney disease
- from overload - with systemic disease and increased amount of small molecule proteins in the plasma.
When collecting urine samples, especially in women, remember that only urine from the middle stream should go to the sampler (the first stream must go to the toilet). Otherwise, the test may be disturbed. Women should not urinate for examination in the perimenstrual period, because the presence of red blood cells makes it impossible to test the sediment.
Proteinuria: diagnosis
To diagnose proteinuria, a 24-hour urine collection and general examination should be performed. When a specific type of protein is detected, the doctor prescribes the appropriate onetreatment.
Proteinuria is characterized by a significant loss of protein, which passes from the blood into the urine and is excreted from the body.
You should see a specialist, i.e. a nephrologist, when a reduction in the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of more than 5 ml / min in a year or more than 10 ml / min in 5 years or protein / creatinine is higher than 100 ml / mmol or 50 ml / mmol in hematuria.
You should definitely go to a specialist for treatment, also in the case of chronic kidney disease in stage 4 or 5. It is also worth remembering that proteinuria, apart from being a completely independent disease, may also be a symptom of nephrotic syndrome or neretic syndrome.
We can defend ourselves against proteinuria. It is mainly recommended:
- maintaining a he althy body weight
- quit smoking (if someone smokes)
- appropriately adjusted physical effort
- people with diabetes - more precise glucose control.
Apart from that, there are periodic tests and careful observation of one's own body.