High Level Of Protein In Urine

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Pediatric Proteinuria

Your child may have no symptoms while in the earliest stages of proteinuria. As large amounts of protein move from the blood to the urine and out of the body, the following signs and symptoms may occur and may indicate progression of kidney disease.

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling , especially around the eyes and in the hands, feet, and belly
• Urine that appears to be foamy or bubbly because of large amounts of protein

When Is A Upcr Test Performed

Your provider orders this test to look for high levels of protein in your urine, a condition called proteinuria. It’s a symptom of kidney disease.

You may get a UPCR:

• At a routine physical examination to screen for proteinuria.
• During pregnancy, if you have signs of preeclampsia.

You may get a UPCR to diagnose or monitor kidney damage and kidney disease/chronic kidney disease if you have signs or symptoms of these conditions .

Is A Low Protein Diet The Answer

Even though it makes intuitive sense, and even though excess protein in the urine is directly associated with hyperfiltration, at this time the effect of protein restriction on renal function is uncertain. For now, suffice it to say that a moderate protein diet with about 0.8 grams per kilo body weight of protein per day, might be beneficial but going on a low protein diet may not be of benefit.

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Can Damage To My Kidneys From High Blood Pressure Be Reversed

If kidney disease is caught early, it can often be reversed by treating the cause, such as high blood pressure. Once kidney disease reaches a more advanced stage, the damage cannot be reversed.

If you already have kidney disease, you may be able to slow down the damage to your kidneys by controlling your blood pressure.

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 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 .

Creatinine, a byproduct of muscle metabolism, is normally released into the urine at a constant rate. When both a urine creatinine and a random urine protein test are performed, the resulting protein/creatinine ratio approaches the accuracy of the 24-hour urine protein test. Since saving all of the urine for 24 hours can be cumbersome for adults and difficult for infants and children, a random urine protein to creatinine ratio is sometimes substituted for a 24-hour urine protein sample.

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What If Proteinuria Is Present Without Inflammation Or Bleeding

If proteinuria is present and there is no sign of inflammation or bleeding, then serious kidney disease may exist. The best test to determine the severity of the problem is the urine protein:creatinine ratio . A protein:creatinine ratio that remains persistently high is a reliable indicator of serious kidney disease and possibly kidney failure. Further investigation is recommended and could include doing blood tests to assess kidney function, testing for bacterial infection or infectious disease, performing an ultrasound of the kidneys and possibly doing a kidney biopsy. Once a diagnosis has been made, effective management of the problem may be possible.

What Is Proteinuria In Cats

Proteinuria occurs when there is too much protein in your cats urine. While some protein in feline urine is normal, high levels that dont drop normally can be a sign of an underlying health issue.

Like other mammals, a cats urine is first formed in the kidneys, where blood is filtered through a special filtration system. This filtration removes toxins and other byproducts of metabolism, including proteins. A structure in the kidneys called the glomerulus is part of this filtration system. One of its jobs is to prevent larger proteins, like albumin, from exiting the body in the urine.

Proteinuria may be a sign that the kidneys are not functioning normally and allowing larger proteins to mix into the urine. Excessive protein in a cats urineeven on routine urine testingwarrants further investigation to identify whats causing it. The earlier the cause of proteinuria is determined and treated, the more likely a positive outcome.

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Ways To Reduce Protein In Urine Naturally

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26 May, 2022

Has your doctor told you that you have too much protein in your urine? This condition is called proteinuria and its important to treat it properly from the moment its first detected, as it can be an indication of kidney problems. Well tell you how to reduce protein in urine naturally in this article.So, take a look at the natural methods well bring you today to combat this problem. If your doctor authorizes them, you can use them as a complement to what they prescribe.

Treatment For Proteinuria In Cats

Once your vet figures out what is causing your cats proteinuria, they will prescribe the best course of treatment. Treatments vary depending on the cause.

• Urinary tract infections are often treated with antibiotics and have an excellent chance of recovery.

• Inflammation of the bladder without infection is typically treated with anti-inflammatories and pain medications.

• Bladder crystals can be treated with diet changes and increased water intake.

• Bladder stones are usually dissolved via diet change or are surgically removed from the bladder via a procedure termed cystotomy.

• Polyps in the bladder often can be surgically removed via bladder surgery or cystoscopy.

• Treating and controlling diseases such as hypertension, hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis, and diabetes may reduce lessen or even resolve proteinuria in cats.

• Kidney disease or kidney failure treatment depends on the severity of the disease.

The goal of therapy in cats with kidney disease is to decrease the proteinuria by more than 90%, which may not be possible if the disease is severe.

Treatment may include only a diet change to a low-protein, low-phosphorus diet in the early stages of kidney disease. As the disease progresses, fluid may be administered under the skin. You can be educated on how to perform this therapy at home.

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What Are The Causes Of Pediatric Proteinuria

One of the functions of protein in the blood is to help balance the bodys fluid levels. When protein spills into the urine, it causes fluid to leak into the bodys tissues, which results in swelling.

Although proteinuria is often harmless and may result from stress, fever or exercise, it also can be a sign of a serious underlying kidney disease or a disease that started in another part of your childs body. Proteinuria also may be a sign of another condition, nephrotic syndrome, which may indicate an underlying kidney disease.The most common risk factors for proteinuria are diabetes and hypertension, or high blood pressure. Both of these diseases can cause kidney damage and proteinuria.

Risk factors include:

• Family history of kidney disease
• Kidney damage or disease

What Causes Nephrotic Syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome happens when you have a disease that damages the filters in your kidneys causes them to not work as they should. There are primary and secondary causes of nephrotic syndrome.

Primary causes of nephrotic syndrome are diseases that affect only the kidneys.

The most common primary cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults is a disease called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis . The only way to know for sure whether you have FSGS is to get a kidney biopsy. Even when treated, most people with FSGS will eventually develop kidney failure and will need to start dialysis or have a kidney transplant to live. After transplant, there is still a chance that FSGS will return and that you may lose your new kidney.

In children, the most common primary cause of nephrotic syndrome is minimal change disease.

Secondary causes of nephrotic syndrome are diseases that affect the whole body, including the kidneys.

Most of the time, nephrotic syndrome happens because of secondary causes. The most common secondary cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults is diabetes.

The most common secondary cause of nephrotic syndrome in children is diabetes.

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Symptoms Of Proteinuria In Cats

There are usually no clinical signs of proteinuria in cats. It is often diagnosed during routine, annual health examinations, where bloodwork and urine samples are routinely tested. Symptoms are usually the result of the underlying cause of the proteinuria and not the proteinuria itself.

If symptoms are present, they may include:

• Blood in the urine

• Frequent, small urinations

• A strong odor to the urine

In more severe cases caused by underlying chronic kidney disease and/or kidney failure, symptoms may include:

If your vet finds high levels of protein in your cats urine, or levels that remain high for too long, they will likely order additional testing.

What Do The Results Mean

If a large amount of protein is found in your urine sample, it doesn’t always mean that you have a medical problem that needs treatment. Strenuous exercise, dehydration, diet, stress, pregnancy, and other conditions can cause a temporary rise in urine protein levels.

Your provider may recommend other urinalysis tests to see whether you continue to have a high level of protein in your urine over time. If your urine protein remains high, it is likely a sign of kidney disease or kidney damage from other conditions.

The amount of protein in your urine is linked to the amount of kidney damage you may have. But you will need more tests to diagnose what is causing the damage. To learn what your results mean, talk with your provider.

Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.

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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.

Can I Get Nephrotic Syndrome Even After I Have A Transplant

Yes, you can get nephrotic syndrome even after your transplant. Remember, nephrotic syndrome is not a single disease. It is caused by different diseases that affect your kidneys. If you get a kidney transplant but do not treat the disease that is affecting your kidneys, the disease may continue to harm your new kidney.

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Can I Live With Proteinuria

Across the board, results showed that mild or heavy amounts of proteinuria was tied to shorter life spans in men and women between 30 and 85 years of age. For example, the life expectancies of 40-year-old men and women with no proteinuria were 15.2 and 17.4 years longer, respectively, than those with heavy proteinuria.

When Is It Ordered

A dipstick urine protein is measured frequently as a screening test whenever a urinalysis is performed. This may be done as part of a routine physical, a pregnancy workup, when a urinary tract infection is suspected, as part of a hospital admission, or whenever a healthcare practitioner wants to evaluate kidney function. Repeat testing may also be done when a previous dipstick has been positive for protein to see if the protein persists.

Specifically for monitoring people with possible kidney dysfunction, the National Kidney Foundation has established a 5-step plan for chronic kidney disease evaluation and referral using random urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio , rather than random UPCR, to screen for and determine the prognosis of CKD, for urine protein is more difficult to standardize.

A 24-hour urine protein may be ordered as a follow-up test, especially in pregnant women with a high pre-screen risk of preeclampsia, when the dipstick test shows that there is a large quantity of protein present in the urine or when protein is shown to be persistently present.

Since the dipstick primarily measures albumin, the health care practitioner may order a 24-hour urine protein test even when there is little protein detected on the dipstick if the practitioner suspects that there may be proteins other than albumin being released.

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Proteinuria In Dogs Faqs

What does it mean if a dog has protein in their urine?

Dogs normally have a small amount of protein in their urine. When the vet sees that there are higher-than-normal levels of protein released into your dogs urine, your veterinarian will perform tests to rule out several possible causes of proteinuria, including kidney disease. Proteinuria should be diagnosed and confirmed by a vet.

How do I reduce protein in my dog’s urine?

Some of the most common causes of damage to a dogs kidney are infections. Keep your dog up to date on heartworm prevention as well as flea and tick control. Treat skin infections and dental disease early.

Why does my dog have high protein in his urine?

High protein in the urine may indicate an infection, blood in the urine, broken red blood cells, muscle proteins, or albumin in the urine. Sometimes, the protein indicates a problem in the kidneys glomerulus , causing protein loss from the body into the urine.

What is urine protein creatinine ratio in dogs?

This is a measurement of the ratio of urine protein to a substance called urine creatinine in your dogs blood creatinine. Creatinine is a normal waste product found in the blood. This test is considered the gold standard for measuring proteinuria in dogs. Normal UPCR levels are less than 0.5. This test is often used in conjunction with other kidney tests to measure overall kidney function.

What Is The Treatment For Proteinuria

If you are diagnosed with kidney disease or your kidney functioning is declining, you will be referred by your doctor to a nephrologist, a doctor specializing in diseases of the kidneys. He or she will recommend treatment, which can include medication and changes in your diet and lifestyle. Treatment is tailored depending on what medical conditions are contributing to proteinuria.

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How Will I Know If My High Blood Pressure Is Affecting My Kidneys

To know if your kidneys have been damaged, your doctor may do tests, including:

• Blood tests: To help find out how well your kidneys still work
• Urine tests: To check for blood and protein in your urine or other signs of problems
• Imaging tests: To look at your kidneys, such as an ultrasound, CT scan, X-ray or MRI

How Can I Prevent Kidney Disease Caused By High Blood Pressure

It can take years for high blood pressure to damage your kidneys. If you already have kidney disease it is important to control your blood pressure. Controlling your blood pressure can help prevent more damage to your kidneys. Here are some steps you can take to control your blood pressure and prevent kidney disease:

• Keep a healthy weight. A healthy weight can help you control your blood pressure and lower your chances of getting kidney disease.Talk to your doctor about what a healthy weight is for you.
• Follow a healthy eating plan. What you eat and drink can change your blood pressure. Choose foods that are low in sodium and fat to help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range.
• Be active for 30 minutes most days of the week. Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any exercise plan.
• Take all of your prescription medicines as your doctor tells you.

• Work with your doctor to control your diabetes.Having both diabetes and high blood pressure can make you more likely to get kidney disease. If you have diabetes, work with your doctor to manage it.

• Work with your doctor to manage your cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance in your blood. Having both high cholesterol and high blood pressure can make you more likely to get kidney disease. High cholesterol can also make kidney disease get worse faster. Talk with your doctor about what your cholesterol level should be and how you can control it.

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