People often take urine tests. The reasons may be the presence of diseases, pregnancy in women, examinations. In this laboratory study, the level of protein in the urine is determined. If he is normal - do not worry. Exceeding the norm is an occasion to pay a visit to the doctor. What are the causes of protein in urine, especially elevated? Let's consider this question in more detail.
State name
The presence of increased protein in the urine carries the medical term proteinuria. In general, protein is an important component for the normal functioning of the human body. It is inherent in the performance of a large number of functions, it is involved in many processes. With a healthy state of the body, protein is either not observed when the test is taken, or is available in very small quantities. And their accumulation in large numbers can signal the existing violations of vital processes. After all, a protein (protein) consists of molecules that are too large that the filtration system of the kidneys does not allow.
Protein norm
Normal - the absence of protein in the urine or the presence of a small amount of it. For many, the question is important: "What is its norm?" When answering, many factors should be taken into account, not excluding the gender and age of the subject. In men, 0.3 grams of protein per liter of urine is allowed. Everything above refers to pathology. In women, due to lower power loads, the norm is reduced - 0.1 grams per liter. Unless they are pregnant.
Severity
Modern medicine distinguishes several states of severity of proteinuria:
- When protein is excreted together with urine per day up to 300 mg, the pathology is called microalbuminuria.
- With an increase in this amount to 1 g, a mild degree of pathology.
- Moderate proteinuria is characterized by the presence of protein up to 3 g.
- If the tests show the presence of protein in the urine over 3 g, we are talking about a severe degree of pathology.
Contributing physiological factors
The causes of protein in the urine are not always associated with the pathological process. For normal health, a content of 0.033 g / l is permissible. What factors contribute to the increase in the specified amount?
- This happens during heavy physical exertion.
- With prolonged exposure to the sun, abuse of tan.
- If the body is cold.
- If you experience a feeling of fear or in a stressful situation, the level of adrenaline in the blood rises. Which, in turn, causes protein in the urine.
- Eating too much food containing protein will show its presence in the urine when taking tests.
If the above reasons affect the appearance of protein in the urine, then they are considered physiological, should not bother a person and do not require treatment.
Pathologies leading to high protein
If an increase in the amount of protein in the urine is detected, the reasons for this lie in the disruption of the functioning of the kidneys. This happens due to various diseases. What diseases cause changes in protein content? There are several independent diseases that contribute to a change in urine tests.
- With malformation of the embryonic development of the renal tubules, cysts form. They come in different sizes. This pathological process is called "polycystic". It is characterized by damage to both kidneys at once.
- The cause of protein in the urine can also be an inflammatory process, mainly of bacterial origin - pyelonephritis.
- Inflammatory processes affecting the kidneys can lead to changes in the analysis. So, if glomeruli (glomeruli of the kidneys) are affected by this ailment, this becomes the cause of an increase in protein in the urine. Hence the name glomerulonephritis.
- Another unpleasant disease that affects the condition of the kidneys is their tuberculosis. Microbacteria of the latter can affect not only the lungs, as is commonly believed, but also the kidneys.
Accompanying illnesses
Not only independent pathologies affect the functioning of the kidneys. There are also other diseases of the body that affect these organs and are the causes of an increase in protein in the urine.
- First of all, this is a disease of the cardiovascular apparatus - hypertension. It is characterized by dysfunction of many organs, including the renal mechanism.
- The well-known consequence of metabolic disorders - diabetes mellitus - also leads to changes. This may be the reason that even in a child, the protein in the urine rises.
- Almost everyone knows about the dangers of high blood cholesterol. Cholesterol plaques are able to clog vessels and disturb the blood flow in them. The same threatens the kidneys. Suffer from fluctuations in cholesterol in most women. Testing for cholesterol will be the answer to the question of what are the causes of protein in the urine of women.
- Separately, it is necessary to mention the state of pregnancy, the course of which can be accompanied by various complications. One of them is called gestosis of pregnant women.
Inflammatory processes
Inflammatory processes in the urinary tract and genital area are also causes of high protein.
- The cause of protein in the urine of women is often inflammation of the bladder - cystitis. It causes severe discomfort and is characterized by changes in the urine during analysis.
- Another ailment that affects the urethra is urethritis. It is also mainly characteristic for the appearance of protein in the urine of women, its causes in acute inflammation of the urethra.
- As for purely men, in their case, protein may appear in connection with prostatitis - inflammation of the prostate gland.
- Due to the structural features of the reproductive system, the cause of protein in a woman's urine can be inflammation of the ureters. Moreover, it is provoked by another pathology: cystitis, urethritis.
In children
The causes of protein in the urine in a child are similar to those in adults. How can externally determine violations of its content?
- The child will experience general weakness.
- Increased drowsiness.
- Children have reduced appetite or may refuse to eat.
- Often dizzy spells.
- Sometimes nausea or vomiting causes a protein in the urine of a child.
- Fever, fever, chills.
- The child sweats, joints and muscles ache.
If these symptoms are identified, you should immediately consult a doctor to establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment. If diseases such as influenza or acute respiratory viral infections become the cause of protein in the urine of a child, antiviral and antipyretic drugs are prescribed.
But the presence of protein in the urine of a child does not always indicate the development of pathology. Proteinuria often occurs in newborns, it is considered the norm. In young children, it can be difficult to collect urine correctly. In this connection, the definition of protein may be erroneous.
Protein during pregnancy
The causes of protein in the urine during pregnancy (over 0.1 g / l) are primarily associated with impaired fluid filtration in the kidneys. The deviation detected during the analysis requires an immediate visit to a specialized specialist - a nephrologist. To establish a more accurate diagnosis, additional studies are prescribed: an ultrasound of the kidneys, a second urinalysis, a test according to Zimnitsky. Additional diagnostic methods may be required. Even if the pathology is not detected, the woman is placed under the supervision of a doctor and undergoes regular examinations in order to monitor urine counts.
Late gestation is characterized by active weight gain and an increase in the uterus. Because of this, strong pressure occurs on the kidneys, which causes protein in the urine during pregnancy. If its indicator does not exceed 0.5 g / l and other unpleasant symptoms are absent, then the woman is also simply observed by a specialist. In this case, there is no need for therapeutic measures.
It happens that the causes of protein in the urine during pregnancy are accompanied by edema, hypertension, flies in front of the eyes. With this combination, treatment is prescribed in a hospital setting. We can talk about late toxicosis, which is a danger not only for the woman herself, but also for her unborn child. Thus, the protein in the urine during pregnancy can cause not pathology, but only the condition itself, in which the birth of a child is expected.
Analysis submission
Almost everyone visits a doctor only when necessary. Blood and urine tests can provide answers to many questions. It is they who are prescribed by the doctor in the first place, in order to establish the clinical picture of the patient.
Women during pregnancy give urine for analysis every time visiting a gynecologist. A similar measure is necessary to analyze the work of the kidneys during a period of increased stress. In this case, there are frequent cases of an increase in the protein content in the urine.
When establishing the patient's pathology of the genitourinary system, he will also have to frequently visit the laboratory and take tests. This will help to identify diseases, diagnose them at an early stage and prescribe effective treatment.
How to collect urine for analysis?
It seems to many that this is a very simple process that does not require compliance with any rules. However, mistaken in this regard, you can get erroneous laboratory conclusions. Among them will be an analysis with a high content of protein in the urine. There are several simple rules, compliance with which will not require further retesting.
- It is only necessary to collect morning urine. At this time, it is most concentrated.
- It is best to use special containers for this procedure - jars that are sold in a wide access at any pharmacy.
- If an adult collects urine, it is recommended to wash. When collecting from a child - it should also be washed.
- Urine is collected by skipping the first few milliliters.
- A liquid whose collection time has exceeded two hours is not suitable for laboratory testing. In this case, the patient runs the risk of receiving false test results.
After passing the analysis and obtaining the result, do not try to figure it out on your own. Not all people have the necessary medical knowledge to be able to make a diagnosis on their own.
Treatment
After establishing the clinical picture and the cause of the appearance of increased protein in the urine, treatment is prescribed. It consists in getting rid of the pathology of the body and lowering the protein level to normal. During treatment, the patient is advised to comply with bed rest, diet. Limit salt and fluid intake. Alcohol, smoked, spicy foods and high protein foods are also prohibited.
With a serious illness, medications are prescribed to get rid of the disease. Inflammation is removed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. High blood pressure decreases as a result of the use of antihypertensive drugs. Cytostatics are sometimes used.
Be mindful of your health. You should regularly take tests, even if there are no complaints about the condition.