In the article, we will examine why protein can appear in urine.
Passing through the kidneys, the blood is filtered, as a result, only those substances that the body needs are left in it, and the rest is excreted in the urine.
Protein molecules are large, and the filtering system of the renal bodies does not let them through. However, due to inflammation or due to other pathological reasons, the integrity of the tissues in the nephrons is impaired, and the protein passes freely through their filters.
Protein is one of the possible deviations in the general analysis. The most accurate determination of the composition of urine allows biochemical studies. What does urine protein mean? A condition in which its level is elevated is called “albuminuria” or “proteinuria” in medicine.
Protein (protein) is the main building material in the human body. It is present in all its organs, tissues and environments. Normally, the protein in the urine is determined in very small quantities, since the kidneys carefully filter it during the processes of reverse absorption. An increase in values can be the result of physiological (stress, diet, etc.) or pathological (oncology, pathology of the genitourinary system, etc.) reasons.
What does protein in the urine of a man and a woman mean is interesting to many.
It performs important functions in the body:
- contribute to the construction of new cells and the formation of intercellular connections;
- provides an immune response to external or internal stimuli;
- forms colloid osmotic (oncotic) blood pressure;
- takes part in the creation of enzymes that play a special role in biochemical reactions.
Increased protein in the urine: causes
The presence of a small level of protein is due to diet, physical activity and minor health problems.
If an infectious, inflammatory or other pathological process takes place in the filtration system of the kidneys, then various inclusions are determined in the urine, including globulins - large protein compounds.
What protein in urine means is important to find out.
The excretion of a large amount in the urine is called proteinuria. If more than 3 g of protein is excreted from the body per day, then this is a reason for suspicion of dysfunction of the glomerular system of the kidneys. Proteinuria, which lasts more than three months, indicates chronic kidney disease. Loss of more than 3.5 g of protein per day can lead to nephrotic syndrome (mass swelling and increased cholesterol).
What else causes protein in urine?
In addition, the loss of proteins may be due to a violation of their reabsorption (re-absorption in the blood) in the proximal renal tubule. There are several reasons for this condition:
- infectious or inflammatory processes;
- side effects of certain medications;
- nephrological diseases in the stage of chronicity, etc.
The risk group for high protein in urine includes:
- people over 65 years old;
- patients with diabetes
- children with weak immunity;
- patients with obesity of various types;
- women during pregnancy;
- athletes.
It should be noted that in men and women, the causes of an increase in the concentration of protein in the urine are almost identical, except when a similar condition is provoked by pathologies of the reproductive system.
Indications for analysis
From what protein appeared in the urine should be determined by a doctor. The analysis is prescribed in the presence of the following clinical symptoms:
- pain, discomfort, itching, or burning when urinating;
- a feeling of insufficient emptying of the bladder;
- pain in joints and bones, fragility of bones (due to loss of protein);
- constant weakness and drowsiness, increased fatigue;
- frequent bouts of dizziness, fainting (may indicate an accumulation of calcium in the blood);
- pathological swelling;
- numbness or tingling of the fingers;
- bouts of fever or chills, hyperthermia without an established cause;
- chronic type anemia (low hemoglobin);
- cramps, muscle cramps;
- digestive disorders (dyspeptic symptoms, appetite disorders) without an established cause.
In addition, a study on protein in the urine is prescribed for such diseases:
- systemic pathologies of any form;
- diagnosis of diseases of the genitourinary system: cystitis, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, renal failure, prostatitis, glomerulonephritis;
- diabetes mellitus;
- childhood infections and diseases;
- in the diagnosis of myeloma (oncological tumor from plasma cells);
- monitoring the effectiveness of intoxication therapy (poisoning with snake venom, heavy metals, drug overdose);
- oncological diseases of the genitourinary system;
- injuries or mass burns;
- congestive heart failure;
- prolonged hypothermia of the body;
- recent surgery.
Physiological proteinuria
In cases of a slight or one-time excess of protein standards in the urine, functional (physiological) causes should be excluded in the first place. Among them are the following:
- hyperthermia not associated with a disease of the genitourinary system;
- prolonged physical activity, sports, weight lifting;
- prolonged hypothermia;
- a sharp change in position immediately before the delivery of biomaterial;
- emotional stress;
- long stay "on their feet";
- dehydration, insufficient fluid intake;
- taking medications that can increase the concentration of protein in the urine;
- allergic reactions;
- period of pregnancy (an expanding uterus puts pressure on the kidneys, which affects their filtration function).
Boost as a result of nutrition
So, we continue to understand what causes protein in the urine. This may occur due to the use of such products:
- protein without heat treatment (raw eggs, dairy products, fish and meat);
- confectionery, sweets;
- too spicy, salty or spicy dishes;
- alcoholic beverages, including beer;
- vinegar-based sauces;
- a large amount of mineral water.
Pathological proteinuria
If, when deciphering the general analysis of urine in adults, an increase in the indicators is repeatedly detected, it is advisable to exclude the following pathologies: infectious disease in the genitourinary system, inflammation of the kidneys, bladder, renal failure, cystitis, nephrotic syndrome, nephritis, impaired renal tubules, and diseases of the reproductive system in women and men, oncological pathologies of the kidneys, leukemia (blood cancer), urogenital system cysts, myeloma. Pathologies affecting the transmission of impulses (concussion, epilepsy, stroke), sickle cell anemia, heart and vascular diseases are also excluded.
Renal and extrarenal proteinuria
The causes of increased protein in the urine are not always easy to establish.
Renal proteinuria is of two types - tubular and tubular.
Tubular proteinuria is observed with:
- immunosuppressive therapy;
- acute interstitial nephritis;
- Sjogren's syndrome;
- prolonged use of NSAIDs;
- cryoglobulinemia (the presence in the blood of cryoglobulin proteins that cause systemic vasculitis).
Glomerular proteinuria, which occurs as a result of glomerular damage that occurs with various forms of glomerulonephritis.
Extrarenal proteinuria is prerenal and postrenal. Proteinuria overflow develops as a result of increased production of atypical low molecular weight proteins that cause acute kidney damage. It occurs in diseases such as rhabdomyolysis (the process of destruction of muscle cells) and multiple myeloma.
The causes of postrenal proteinuria are infections, urolithiasis, various tumor processes in the kidneys. What does protein in urine mean in women?
Proteinuria during the expectation of a child
Reference values in this period are 0-0.3 g / l 2 . What causes protein in pregnant women in urine?
If these indicators exceed permissible norms, then the patient's risk of developing gestational pyelonephritis increases. An increased level in the late stages (3 trimester) is an occasion to suspect gestosis, which is a serious complication, manifested by increased pressure, mass swelling and muscle cramps. With pathological proteinuria, a pregnant woman has a general deterioration in well-being, chronic drowsiness and weakness, and high blood pressure. This increases the likelihood of developing oxygen starvation of the fetus, impaired development, miscarriage and premature birth. In addition, in case of severe proteinuria, the probability of fetal death increases by 5 times.
Deciphering the general analysis of urine in adults
Decryption requires the necessary medical qualifications, therefore, experts do not recommend doing the independent interpretation of the result. This laboratory study is characterized by high information content, ease of use and is considered fundamental in the diagnosis of any disease.
Parameters that make up the general analysis of urine:
- organoleptic indicators (smell, color, volume, foaminess, transparency);
- physicochemical values (acidity, density);
- biochemical parameters (sugar, protein, ketone bodies, urobilin);
- microscopic examination of sediment (leukocytes, red blood cells, epithelial cells, cylinders, bacteria, salt crystals, fungi).
Only a doctor can evaluate the results obtained during the study and take into account the characteristics of the patient.
So, the normal indicators are:
- color - straw yellow;
- the smell is unsharp;
- absolute transparency;
- pH - from 4 to 7;
- density - 1012 g / l - 1022 g / l;
- protein volume - not more than 0.033 g / l;
- glucose - not more than 0.8 mmol / l;
- bilirubin - absence;
- ketone bodies - absence;
- urobilinogen - 5-10 mg / l;
- hemoglobin - absence;
- erythrocytes - single (in men), not more than 3 (in women);
- white blood cells - not more than 6 (in women), not more than 3 (in men);
- epithelial cells - no more than 10;
- cylinders - single hyaline or absent;
- salts - absence;
- bacteria, fungi, parasites - absence.
Why is urine protein determination necessary at all?
Diagnostics when the indicator deviates from the norm
As already mentioned, there is a daily rate of protein excreted in the urine, so any deviations from it should be the basis for a thorough medical examination. In order to accurately determine whether there is one or another pathology in the body, you should contact a nephrologist or urologist. If protein in the urine in late pregnancy was detected, then not only a doctor in the field of nephrology or urology, but also a therapist or gynecologist can solve this problem. Diagnostic measures include the following mandatory procedures:
- Ultrasound of the bladder and kidneys;
- MRI of the kidneys;
- radioisotope diagnostics for the presence of various urological diseases;
- urodynamic diagnosis;
- uroflowmetry.
In addition to instrumental diagnostic techniques, the patient must pass a urinalysis for traces of albumin and protein.
How to lower the level?
The treatment course to eliminate this problem depends on the factors that provoked it. If an increased protein content in the urine is detected, a specialized therapy aimed at eliminating the underlying disease is prescribed. Due to the fact that this condition has many reasons, a comprehensive diagnosis is necessary. The urinary system is examined first.
Most often, with a high protein content in the urine, specialists prescribe such medications:
- antibiotics, the action of which should be aimed at eliminating a specific pathogen, pre-determined using laboratory tests;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- medicines that can lower blood pressure;
- antihistamines;
- cytostatics (if necessary);
- glucocorticosteroids;
- painkillers, in the case when the patient has severe pain.
As a rule, after elimination of the main pathology that provoked a change in protein indicators in the urine, this value normalizes.
Analysis preparation
In order for the analysis to give the most accurate result, the patient needs to know how to collect urine to detect daily proteinuria.
For urine, you need to purchase a special container. 24 hours before collecting urine, you should refuse spicy, fatty, rich and salty foods, as well as vegetables, citrus fruits, fatty foods. In addition, medication should be delayed for some time. Women of reproductive age with urine tests should wait if they have menstruation during this period.
The genitals when collecting urine should be clean, otherwise the result will be unreliable. After collecting the liquid, the jar is tightly covered with a lid and placed in a dark, cool place. Store biomaterial before the study can be a maximum of two hours.
We examined what increased protein in urine means.