How The Test Is Performed
After you provide a urine sample, it is tested. The health care provider uses a dipstick made with a color-sensitive pad. The color on the dipstick tells the provider the level of protein in your urine.
If needed, your provider may ask you to collect your urine at home over 24 hours. Your provider will tell you how to do this. Follow instructions exactly so that the results are accurate.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Proteinuria
You may not have any symptoms in the early stages of proteinuria. In advanced stages of proteinuria, symptoms may include:
- Swelling in your face, belly, feet or ankles.
- More frequent urination.
- Congestive heart failure.
What level of proteinuria is concerning?
A normal amount of protein in your pee is less than 150 milligrams per day. If you have more than 150 milligrams of protein in your pee per day, you have proteinuria. The upper limit of normal can vary a bit between laboratories.
If you have 3 to 3.5 grams of protein in your pee per day, you have nephrotic-range proteinuria. Nephrotic syndrome is a relatively rare condition that causes your kidneys to release an excessive amount of protein in your pee.
How Does High Blood Pressure Affect My Kidneys
Here is how high blood pressure can affect your kidneys:
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What Are The Causes
- Diseases of the glomeruli , for example glomerulonephritis or diabetes.
- Urine infection can cause proteinuria, but usually there are other signs of this such as a urinary tract infections.
- Proteinuria can be a symptom of some other conditions and diseases: for example: congestive heart failure, a first warning of eclampsia in pregnancy.
- Sometimes a positive dipstick for protein isnt abnormal, for example concentrated samples first thing in the morning, or if you have become dehydrated or havent drunk much.
- Temporary proteinuria may occur after vigorous exercise or if you have a high fever.
- Sometimes, almost always in children, proteinuria can be detected later in the day, but not in the morning. This is known as orthostatic proteinuria and it is usually harmless.
Blood And Protein In Urine
Urine color may change due to the presence of blood and protein in urine. This article explains why blood or protein gets mixed up in the urine and what are the other symptoms of the disorder.
Urine color may change due to the presence of blood and protein in urine. This article explains why blood or protein gets mixed up in the urine and what are the other symptoms of the disorder.
Usually, deep yellow is the color of concentrated urine, while dilute urine is normally colorless. Any other color of the urine is considered as abnormal. Distinct change in the color of urine is the prominent symptom of blood and protein in urine. Drugs or some food particles can impart various colors to the urine, like brown, green, black, orange or red. Brown urine may indicate the presence of broken down hemoglobin, which is a protein that promotes transfer of oxygen through red blood cells.
Urine can appear red or brown due to the presence of red blood cells in urine. The color may change, depending upon how long and how much amount of blood it contains. Brown urine can also be due to the presence of the muscle protein known as myoglobin. The condition wherein blood in the urine is noticed, is called hematuria. Chemical tests or microscopes help detect even a very small amount of blood in the urine.
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Trace Of Blood And Protein In Urine What Does That Mean
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What Do The Urine Protein Test Results Mean
Theres a range of test results that can indicate normal kidney function. Your healthcare provider will discuss the ranges with you and tell you about your specific results. High values might mean that theres kidney disease or damage. If your test result shows a high level of protein or albumin, its likely that your provider will repeat the test.
If your second test is also high, your healthcare provider may order additional tests to further check your kidney function. When either diabetes or high blood pressure is the cause of the albuminuria, treatment of these problems may reduce albuminuria or its progression to kidney disease. Certain blood pressure medications inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers) are especially helpful at limiting kidney damage after micro-albuminuria or albuminuria has been found.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 02/23/2020.
References
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What Are The Complications Of Nephrotic Syndrome
When you have nephrotic syndrome, an important protein called albumin leaks into your urine instead of getting filtered by the kidneys as it should. Albumin helps your body get rid of extra fluid. When you do not have enough albumin in your blood, fluid can build up in your body, causing swelling in your legs, feet and ankles. You can also have other problems such as blood clots and infections.
With nephrotic syndrome, cholesterol also builds up in your blood. When you have too much cholesterol in your blood, clumps form inside your veins and arteries, which can cause a heart attack or a stroke.
Nephrotic syndrome can also cause other serious health problems such as:
Asymptomatic Proteinuria And Hematuria Syndrome
, MD, Washington University in St. Louis
Small amounts of protein excreted in the urine or blood excreted in the urine can make urine appear pink, red, or brown, depending on the amount of blood, how long it has been in the urine, and how acidic the urine is. An amount of blood… read more ) are sometimes discovered in people without symptoms when urine tests are done for some routine purpose. The presence of clumps of red blood cells or abnormally shaped red blood cells is a clue for doctors that the blood in the urine came from glomeruli. Casts and proteinuria may be present because the person is recovering from a recent undiagnosed episode of kidney inflammation . It is characterized by body tissue swelling… read more ). If this situation seems likely, a doctor needs only to recheck the person over the next weeks or months to make sure that the abnormalities resolve.
If red blood cells and proteinuria persist, the cause is usually one of three disorders:
Doctors usually recommend that people with asymptomatic proteinuria and hematuria have a physical examination and undergo urine testing once or twice a year. Additional tests are done if the amount of protein or blood increases much, or if symptoms occur that suggest the development of a specific disease. Most people with asymptomatic proteinuria and hematuria syndrome do not worsen, and the condition may persist indefinitely.
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How Do Doctors Treat High Blood Pressure
First, your doctor may suggest some healthy life changes. This may include:
- Following a low-sodium eating plan
- Being active for at least 30 minutes most days of the week
- Quitting smoking or using tobacco
- Drinking less alcohol
If healthy life changes are not enough to control your blood pressure, your doctor may give you a prescription blood pressure medicine. There are two types of blood pressure medicines that can also help protect your kidneys and slow down kidney disease:
- ACE inhibitors : A group of medicines that lower blood pressure by widening your blood vessels, helping your kidneys get rid of extra water and lowering the levels of hormones that raise blood pressure
- ARBs :A group of medicines that lower blood pressure by widening your blood vessels
Your doctor might also ask you to take a diuretic, also called a water pill. This helps your body get rid of extra fluid which can cause high blood pressure.
Be sure to take all medicines the way your doctor tells you to. Blood pressure medicines work best when you take them every day even if you feel fine.
Talk to your doctor if you have any side effects from your medicines. You may be able to take a different medicine that does not have those side effects.
What Is The Most Likely Cause Of Protein In Urine
There is a question about what causes theuria. Non-cancerous or temporary medical conditions are some of the reasons why proteinuria can be caused. Dehydration, inflammation and low blood pressure are some of the symptoms. Aspirin therapy, emotional stress, and exposure to cold are some of the things that can causeProteinuria.
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How To Prepare For The Test
Different medicines can change the result of this test. Before the test, tell your provider which medicines you are taking. DO NOT stop taking any medicine before talking to your provider.
The following may also interfere with test results:
- Dye if you have a radiology scan within 3 days before the urine test
- Strenuous exercise
Physical Examination / Macroanalysis
In this portion of the analysis, the color, clarity, and concentration of the urine are evaluated. Abnormal colors can result from disease, certain foods, or contamination, so the physical examination is generally viewed as a crude assessment. Light or dark coloration also suggests how much water is being excreted. The clarity of urine is measured as either clear, slightly clear, cloudy, or turbid. Urine clarity, like urine color, suggests that substances may be present in the urine for example, turbid urine suggests the presence of protein or excess cellular material. However, accurate conclusions regarding the origin of the urine clarity cannot be drawn until further chemical and microscopic tests are performed. The physical examination also includes specific gravity, which measures the concentration of the urine sample. Specific gravity compares the concentration of urine to that of water . Usually it is better for the urine given in a sample to be more concentrated this allows the laboratory to more accurately detect substances being excreted by your body. If your urine is very dilute , you may be asked to give another urine sample.
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How Is Hematuria Diagnosed
The doctor will do an exam and ask about symptoms, recent activities, and the family medical history. Your child will give a urine sample for testing.
Sometimes, more tests are done, such as a:
Kids with hematuria that doesn’t go away, who have protein in the urine, and/or high blood pressure should see a nephrologist .
Gross Vs Microscopic Hematuria
In case your urine has pink or pink coloring from blood in your urine, your physician will most likely name the issue gross hematuria, however seen hematuria is a greater time period. Pink or pink urine is the hallmark of the situation, however discolored urine doesnt at all times imply theres blood within the urine. The chemical substances in sure medicines nitrofurantoin , phenazopyridine , rifampin and a few meals and synthetic meals colorings can mimic blood, and liver illness or muscle injury could do the identical. Nonetheless, when urine seems bloody, medical doctors should at all times assume blood cells are current till laboratory testing proves in any other case.
On the different excessive, the urine can look completely regular however nonetheless comprise RBCs. Invisible, or microscopic, hematuria is normally detected throughout a routine urine evaluation. Step one within the urine evaluation is a straightforward dipstick, which might point out the doable presence of pink blood cells, white blood cells, and protein. However for the reason that dipstick will give a optimistic outcome if the urine comprises hemoglobin from blood or myoglobin from broken muscle cells, a optimistic dipstick should at all times be confirmed by analyzing the urine beneath a microscope. Though standards range, the presence of quite a lot of RBCs in every microscopic view is taken into account irregular.
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The Best And Worse Foods To Eat In A Type 2 Diabetes Diet
Diabetes and hypertension are the top causes of kidney disease, so if you have these conditions, your treatment will include getting these under control. For diabetics, this can include managing blood sugar, taking medication, eating healthy, and exercising.
For people with hypertension, doctors may recommend medication as well as diet and lifestyle changes. People with hypertension and proteinuria are also advised that they should keep their blood pressure below 130/80 millimeters of mercury .
People with diabetes and kidney disease or hypertension and kidney disease are often prescribed medications, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers . These medications may also be prescribed to people with kidney disease who do not have diabetes or hypertension.
If kidney damage is permanent, patients may also require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Whats Wrong With Having Albumin In My Urine
One of the main jobs of your kidneys is to filter your blood. When your kidneys are healthy, they keep important things your body needs inside your blood, like protein. They also remove things your body doesnt need, like waste products and extra water.
If your kidneys are damaged, protein can leak out of the kidneys into your urine. Having protein in your urine is called albuminuria or proteinuria.
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When Should I See My Healthcare Provider
Contact your healthcare provider if:
- You pee more frequently than you usually do, or it hurts to pee.
- Your pee is foamy or bubbly.
- You feel nauseous or vomit.
- You feel dizzy, weak or lightheaded.
- You have any swelling or puffiness around your face, abdomen or lower body.
- Your symptoms dont improve after treatment.
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
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How Is Hematuria Treated
If your hematuria is caused by an infection, like a urinary tract infection , hematuria is treated with antibiotics. Your healthcare provider will test your urine after treating you with antibiotics to ensure that your infection has cleared. The goal of our kidney specialists at Richmond Nephrology Associates is to find the cause of blood in your urine and treat it. If no serious condition is causing hematuria, no treatment is needed.
People with proteinuria have unusually high amounts of protein in their urine. The condition is often a sign of kidney disease. Your kidneys are filters that dont usually let a lot of protein pass through. When kidney disease damages them, proteins such as albumin may leak from your blood into your pee. You can also have proteinuria when your body makes too much protein. Kidney disease often has no early symptoms. Protein in your pee might be one of the first signs. Your doctor may spot proteinuria on a urine test during a routine physical.
If your proteinuria indicates kidney disease, our kidney specialists at Richmond Nephrology Associates will work with you to assess and manage your disease.
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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