What does it mean - increased protein in the urine? This is a common question. Let's look into it in more detail.
Urine analysis is considered a traditional research method, which is often prescribed even to a he althy person, for example, a woman during pregnancy. In some situations, the presence of protein in the urine is not a cause for concern, but a specialist should make such a conclusion. Below we will consider a situation in which an increased protein content in the urine is not considered the norm. We will also find out when this is a cause for concern. Sometimes patients themselves can understand why an increased protein is found in the urine and whether it is worth sounding the alarm about this.
Urine protein norm
There should not be any protein in the reference analysis of urine content. Quite often, you can find such an indicator in the urine test form as 0.033 g / l. This iscalled protein traces, and this figure represents the border between deviation and norm.
Most often, the appearance of traces of protein is explained by physiological factors. This may be a violation of the regimen and quality of nutrition, insufficient hygiene when collecting urine, etc. In this case, as a rule, a second analysis is prescribed.
What is the name of this phenomenon?
If an increased protein is found in the urine, then this phenomenon in medical practice is called proteinuria. It should also be borne in mind that just a general urine test is not enough for an accurate diagnosis, and additional research is needed, for example, on the amount of protein in the fluid collected per day. A normal daily protein level is 150 mg/day.
There is often an increased protein in the urine of a child.
There are several stages in the development of proteinuria. They are determined by the amount of protein contained in daily urine:
- Mild stage where protein loss is less than 1 g/day.
- Moderate stage, protein values are in the range of 1-3 g/day.
- Severe stage, when more than 3 g/day is excreted in the urine.
Elevated protein in the urine in men is less common than in women.
Referral for analysis
The vast majority of people come to a specialist at the moment when there are he alth problems. The standard directions issued by the doctor in this case are a general blood and urine test. Besides,a referral for research is issued in the following cases:
- Women during pregnancy. At each visit to a gynecologist, a woman takes a general urine test. This measure allows you to analyze how the kidneys cope with the new load. Increased protein in the urine during pregnancy is very common.
- Prophylactic examination.
- Pathologies of the genitourinary system that require regular urine testing to monitor the patient's condition.
Very few of those who independently go to give urine for research. However, regular testing can prevent the development of many diseases and detect them at an early stage, which will facilitate further diagnosis and treatment. The causes of increased protein in the urine are presented below.
Correct urine collection
Many believe that this is a normal process that does not require the implementation of any recommendations and rules. However, this is a fairly common misconception. Often, it is the wrong collection of urine that leads to the fact that the analysis shows an increased protein. To prevent this from happening, you must follow the following rules:
- Only concentrated morning urine is suitable for collection for general analysis.
- Special sterile jars for collecting tests are sold in pharmacies.
- Before collecting urine, you should wash well or thoroughly wash the child.
- The first few milliliters of urine do not need to be collected, they may contain secretions.
- Maximum analysis delivery time toclinic is two hours. Otherwise, the results may be incorrect and false.
Every person at least once in his life passed urine for analysis, and it is recommended to do this regularly, without waiting for diseases. The interpretation of the result should be done only by a doctor. Independent conclusions about the indications may be incorrect, in addition, in certain circumstances, increased protein in the urine is considered acceptable.
Causes of proteinuria
Factors that provoke proteinuria can be both harmless and dangerous to he alth. However, even the regular detection of traces of protein indicates disorders that may be associated with the functioning of the kidneys. In a woman, such deviations in analysis can quite often provoke various physiological reasons.
Such prerequisites can be:
- Wrong diet.
- Intense physical activity.
- Stressful situations.
- Hypercooling.
- Prolonged sunbathing, tanning.
- Late pregnancy.
- Failure to follow the rules of personal hygiene during the collection of urine, or the presence of menstruation.
- Work that requires standing upright for long periods of time, causing congestion.
- Physiotherapy, contrast shower.
- Too active palpation of the kidneys on examination by a specialist.
If increased protein in the urine provoked one of the above factors, then the urine content normalizes immediately after eliminationcauses. However, physiological effects, especially long-term ones, can lead to the appearance of pathological processes and a significant loss of proteins with the excreted fluid.
Elevated protein in the urine during pregnancy often means the norm. Level increase to 0, 002 g/l is allowed. In the last stages of pregnancy, doctors are allowed to exceed up to 0.033 g / l, since the load on the kidneys is extremely high. At 3g/l and more, we are most likely talking about serious pathologies.
Possible problems
There are a number of abnormalities in which there is an increase in the level of protein in the urine. These include:
- Various diseases of the urinary system. It can be prostatitis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, urolithiasis, kidney injury, kidney tuberculosis, etc.
- Infectious diseases accompanied by fever, such as influenza and pneumonia.
- Severe allergic reactions.
- High blood pressure.
- Overweight and diabetes.
- Intoxication of the body.
- Appendicitis. In this case, proteinuria is found in combination with blood leukocytosis.
- Harmful effects on the body when taking certain drugs. It occurs, for example, against the background of oncological disease therapy with drugs from the group of cytostatics.
- Such a systemic disease as lupus erythematosus.
- Malignant neoplasms such as myeloma, leukemia, kidney and bladder tumors.
Increased protein in the urine of a child means the development of serious diseases such as:
- pyelonephritis;
- urolithiasis;
- glomerulonephritis;
- leukemia;
- diabetes;
- bone tissue pathologies;
- systemic connective tissue diseases (lupus erythematosus);
- malignant tumors of the lungs, kidneys, intestines.
With malnutrition
To find out the real cause of proteinuria and prescribe the correct treatment regimen, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of a false test result. In addition to observing the rules of hygiene when collecting urine, you should also pay attention to food a few days before collecting material for analysis. A number of foods can lead to an increase in protein in the urine. In particular, these products are:
- Excessively s alty food. Quite often, s alted herring causes the appearance of protein in the urine of a pregnant woman.
- Eating lots of sweets.
- Spicy food that irritates the kidneys.
- Marinades and pickles with vinegar.
- Plenty of protein-rich foods such as fish, meat, milk, eggs.
- Alcoholic drinks, including beer.
- Plenty of mineral water.
Fluid deficiency
Lack of fluid intake can also lead to proteinuria, as can vitamin C abuse. Sometimes regular intake of rosehip infusion can irritate the kidney parenchyma,cause an exacerbation of kidney disease and affect urine test results.
Some drugs can also irritate the kidneys. Such drugs are Cephalosporin, Aspirin, Polymyxin, Oxacillin, Streptomycin and preparations that include lithium. Such drugs should be discontinued before testing.
Symptoms of pathologies
As a rule, a slight increase in the protein content in the urine does not appear outwardly. Only if proteinuria is very pronounced and has a long course, this can affect the patient's he alth. Women in this case feel the following symptoms:
- Puffiness indicating protein loss.
- Increased blood pressure, which indicates the development of a nephrological disease.
- Loss of appetite, general weakness.
- Painful sensations in the muscles, regular cramps.
- Increased body temperature.
Visually you can also observe changes in the urine, for example:
- A cloudy color and the presence of a white precipitate indicate increased protein and leukocytes.
- Foam when shaken indicates the presence of protein.
- Darkening of urine indicates the content of red blood cells.
- A strong smell is a sign of diabetes.
If it is a severe disorder in the kidney tissue, which is typical for stone formation, the urine will contain both protein and erythrocytes with leukocytes.
Increased protein in the urine: treatment
If proteinuria is physiological in nature, then no special treatment is carried out. In this situation, it is enough to get rid of the factors that provoke it. Adjust nutrition and sleep and rest patterns, stop drinking alcohol, etc.
A significant increase in protein in the urine requires clarification of the diagnosis and determination of the cause of this deviation from the norm. In some cases, hospitalization may be required. When differential diagnosis is made, treatment is prescribed. It could be:
- Taking antibiotics.
- Antihypertensive drugs.
- Corticosteroids.
- Drugs for detoxification.
- Plasmopheresis, hemosorption and other physiotherapy.
In addition, as part of complex therapy, it is necessary to follow a special s alt-free diet with the exception of tea and coffee, spicy dishes and smoked meats.
Now I understand what it means - increased protein in the urine.
