Proteinuria or protein in the urine as a sign of renal pathology. Protein in urine - what does it mean in women and men; norms and reasons for the increase Urine analysis protein 0 04 what does it mean

The presence of an element such as protein in urine signals a malfunction in the body. It can be caused by a number of reasons - from banal hypothermia to serious pathologies of the urinary system. If you have detected an increased protein content (), you should not postpone your visit to the doctor so as not to miss a possible disease.

The process of protein formation in urine

Urine is formed by the process of filtering blood by capturing waste substances from it and passing them through the kidney membranes. Thus, the body is freed from salts and toxins.

Malfunctions of kidney components lead to the detection of elements in urine that should not be found there. Blood plasma contains a large number of proteins, of which small ones easily pass through the renal tubules and are reabsorbed into the blood.

Larger protein molecules can enter the urine when the kidney filtration system is damaged. The more severe the damage to the kidney tissue, the more large molecular proteins will be found in the urine.

The appearance of protein in urine is not always associated with pathologies of the kidneys and urinary organs; sometimes disorders in other body systems lead to the release of protein into the urine. , burns, frostbite strike tissue proteins, causing their concentration in urine to be higher than normal.

Causes of protein formation in urine

Proteinuria can be physiological or pathological, depending on what causes it. Physiological increase in protein is a passing condition that does not require treatment.

Main reasons:

• excessive physical and nervous tension;
• excessive consumption of proteins;
• prolonged vertical position obstructing blood flow;
• hypothermia, overheating;
• last months of pregnancy;
• increased adrenaline and norepinephrine in the blood;
• examination of the kidneys by palpation;
• illnesses accompanied by fever;
• taking certain medications.

Pathological reasons:

• kidney tubule damage;
• inflammatory processes in the urinary organs;
• hypertension, heart failure;
• , multiple myeloma;
• diabetes mellitus, epilepsy;
• renal failure;
• , pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis;
• tumors of the urinary organs.

Only a comprehensive examination will help determine what disease caused the deviation from normal values.

Symptoms that may occur with proteinuria

A temporary (physiological) increase in protein in urine does not manifest itself in any way. A mild form of the disease at an early stage also does not present a clear clinical picture. Pathological proteinuria goes away with the symptoms of the disease that provoked it.

Prolonged high levels of protein cause:

• pain in muscles, joints, bones;
• night cramps, sleep disturbances;
• weakness, anemia, dizziness;
• swelling, rapid heartbeat;
• cloudiness, white coating and;
• fever, nausea.

Normal protein content in urine

Protein norm for men

A slight excess of these indicators in males is not a deviation, especially with intense training, physical or standing work, frequent hypothermia, and abuse of meat foods. An increase in protein can also occur when it enters the urine from the prostate gland or urethra.

Protein norm for women

For females, the upper permissible limit for protein content is 0.03 g/l. Its physiological increase is a consequence of genital infections, pregnancy, and the postpartum period.

During pregnancy, an indicator of 0.033-0.3 g/l is considered acceptable. In this case, the protein may increase due to the mechanical pressure of the fetus on the kidneys. Exceeding the figure of 0.5 g/l in pregnant women in the last trimester often indicates. Its other symptoms are in combination with high blood pressure. Systematic urine testing and monitoring of the pregnant woman’s kidney function will help to distinguish physiological from pathological growth.

Protein standards for children

The maximum protein concentration in the urine of a healthy child is 0.025 g/l. Exceeding this indicator does not always indicate pathology. It can be caused by allergies, fever, colds, stress, and in infants - overfeeding. Often the protein content increases in the urine of teenage boys, which is due to the specific functioning of the kidneys at this age.

Protein in urine. What to do? Advice for parents. Pediatrician, Candidate of Medical Sciences Kostyushina I.S., Scientific Center, tells:

Rules for collecting urine for analysis

The reliability of the analysis results depends on compliance with the rules on the eve of its delivery:

1. Do not take medications that affect protein levels (colistin, acetazolamide, lithium, oxacillin).
2. Refrain from eating meat, cottage cheese, salt, sour, spicy, smoked foods.
3. Avoid alcohol 3 days before the test.
4. Toilet the external urinary organs.
5. Collect urine immediately after waking up according to this scheme: start in the toilet, continue into the jar, then back into the toilet.
6. Avoid hypothermia and stress the day before.

How to decipher a urine test

A general analysis allows you to evaluate the physical indicators (color, transparency, density, weight, acidity) and the chemical composition of urine and its sediment. The study should include the following indicators:

On a note! A urine test is indicative of assessing the state of health, but for an accurate diagnosis of the disease, the doctor will refer you for further examination.

Hello, dear readers! Pathological processes that occur in the kidneys are primarily reflected in the composition of urine. Today I want to introduce you to another secret of laboratory research and tell you about increased protein in the urine, why it appears there, how much of it should be normal and what a deviation from the norm means.

This laboratory indicator is most important for the doctor to make a diagnosis. Normally, there should be no protein in the urine, but acceptable values ​​can be up to 0.033 g/l. Anything above this value is called proteinuria.

The biological value of proteins in the human body is extremely important. After all, proteins are building materials for building cells, protect the body from infections, help absorb vitamins and microelements, etc. Proteins - enzymes that make up enzymes help in biological and chemical processes in the body.

The kidneys filter our blood, removing from the body not only excess water, but also metabolic end products, inorganic and organic substances and toxins. The appearance of protein in the urine is one of the signs of a wide range of diseases that can be divided into three groups:

1. When the permeability of the glomerular filter is impaired, the renal glomeruli cannot filter high molecular weight proteins. Glomerular (glomerular) proteinuria is a mandatory sign of many kidney diseases, with hypertension, atherosclerotic nephrosclerosis, and congestive kidney.
2. Reabsorption disorder, when, during normal filtration in the glomeruli, reabsorption of low molecular weight proteins does not occur. Tubular proteinuria is observed in glomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, renal amyloidosis, and systemic diseases.
3. Proteinuria “overflow” is much less common and most often it is one of the signs of neoplasms.

Protein in urine is normal

As I have already noted, a healthy person should not have protein in the urine, but its acceptable values ​​are up to 0.033 g/l.

Increased protein in the urine (also called albuminuria) can be orthostatic in nature and can be observed after heavy physical work, in athletes, with increased sweating, in weakly physically developed schoolchildren and adolescents, in pregnant women.

Exceeding the norm may be due to improper collection of urine for research. Even improper toileting of the genitals before taking the test can affect the result. How to properly prepare for a urine test?

Increased protein in urine

The cause of increased protein in the urine can be various different diseases:

• viral and bacterial infections,
• prolonged fasting and
• burn disease,
• hormonal changes.

As a rule, after recovery from these diseases, the release of protein into the urine stops.

The main and most common cause is pathological processes in the kidneys and urinary tract themselves.

But albuminuria is possible not only with kidney diseases. This can be one of the signs of allergic reactions, leukemia, epilepsy and heart failure.

Depending on the amount of protein, there are 3 degrees of proteinuria:

1. Initial – protein content in daily urine – 150-500 mg/l;
2. Moderate – from 500 mg/l to 2 g/l;
3. Macroproteinuria – more than 2 g/l, which occurs in severe kidney damage (glomerulonephritis, tuberculosis, tumors, amyloidosis, etc.). This level can lead to serious consequences, including kidney failure, when hemodialysis or an artificial kidney machine will be required to restore function.

If a slight increase in protein is observed for quite a long time, then this is also a reason for a more thorough examination by a doctor.

During pregnancy

As soon as a pregnant woman registers with the antenatal clinic, she needs to regularly, right up to the birth itself, have her urine tested before each visit to the gynecologist, including for protein. In the first half of pregnancy, urine is taken once a month, in the second half - once every 2 months. Why is this necessary?

Pregnancy is a special condition when, due to physiological characteristics, the functioning of some organs and the body as a whole changes. Thus, an increase in protein in the urine tells the gynecologist about possible pathologies that can negatively affect both the health of the woman herself and the growing fetus.

Exceeding normal protein levels may be due to physiological reasons (stress, use of certain medications, increased sweating, cold showers, etc.). Although experts say that a pregnant woman should not excrete more than 0.08 - 0.2 g/l per day. If exceeding the norm is observed once, then this does not cause concern. It is enough to regulate your diet and drinking regime. After eliminating the causes of protein in the urine, protein levels return to normal.

Pre-existing kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and high blood pressure can provoke increased protein in pregnant women.

But the most dangerous condition during pregnancy, accompanied by excess of the norm, is gestosis. With gestosis, the placenta begins to function incorrectly, as a result of which the growing fetus does not receive enough oxygen and nutrients. A possible outcome is premature birth, arrest of fetal development and even death.

As a form of late toxicosis, a woman, combined with high blood pressure, can develop very life-threatening conditions: nephropathy, preeclampsia and eclamsia.

If during pregnancy you experience dizziness, headache, ringing in the ears, darkening of the eyes - these are serious symptoms that should never be ignored, you should immediately inform your gynecologist about the appearance of these symptoms.

In children

Normally, a healthy child should not have protein in his urine. But its appearance should alert both parents and doctors. Because this may be one of the symptoms of a serious pathology.

In young children, exceeding the indicators can occur not only due to reasons that are also typical for adults. This is possible due to overheating, when the child is dressed very warmly, elevated temperature, during excessive physical activity, even in infants, when they move their arms and legs very actively, when using certain medications, allergies, injuries and burns.

Orthostatic proteinuria may occur in adolescents. With increased physical activity, the protein level can reach 1.0 g/l, this is observed more often in teenage boys.

To be sure of the correctness of the analysis result, a portion of urine is collected after a thorough morning toilet and it is best to take the middle portion of urine.

In men

It is necessary to separately note the deviation from the norm in urine analysis in men. In addition to the reasons described above for the appearance of protein in the urine, its appearance can be provoked by excessive consumption of protein foods and proteins.

Elevated levels can tell the doctor about the presence of prostatitis and urethritis in men. With a thorough examination, protein can be observed not only in kidney pathology, but it can be a symptom of hemolytic anemia, myocardial infarction, obliterating atherosclerosis with gangrene of the extremities, oncology, muscle injuries.

Symptoms of increased protein in urine

If the indicators in the analysis do not slightly exceed the norm, then people do not make any special complaints. However, a significant and long-term deviation from the norm may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• pain and aches in joints and muscles, night cramps in the legs,
• general weakness, loss of appetite, pale skin,
• fever and chills,
• high blood pressure,
• the appearance of edema,
• bad dream,
• loss of consciousness.

Visually, you can see flakes and white deposits in the urine, but the urine itself becomes cloudy.

If elevated protein is detected for the first time, it is necessary to retake the test, paying careful attention to the toilet of the genital organs, since remaining discharge in women or lubricant under the foreskin in men can get into the urine and the result will again be unreliable.

Dear readers, increased protein in the urine is a serious sign. If you have characteristic symptoms and changes in the appearance of urine, you must tell your doctor about this in order to begin timely treatment.

The presence of protein in urine - what does this mean? Protein in the urine, or so-called proteinuria, occurs due to various factors. Some amount of the substance may occasionally be present in the urine. However, there is a certain limit, after exceeding which we can talk about kidney dysfunction.

Temporary promotion

The kidneys are responsible for urine formation in the human body. Temporary high protein levels can be due to a number of factors. As a result of observation, the reasons that influenced the change in kidney function are determined - the presence of diseases, hypothermia, and the effect of certain medications.

Increased protein in the urine indicates the presence of inflammation. Intestinal infections easily spread to the kidneys, since the lymphatic vessels of these organs and the intestines are closely interconnected.

The presence of inflammation is determined by examining:

• general urinalysis;
• general blood test;
• urine analysis using the Zimnitsky method.

A commonly available and inexpensive method for examining the kidneys is ultrasound. With its help, various pathologies and neoplasms are identified. The norm for protein in urine in women is its absence. But the presence of no more than 0.0025 g per 1 liter of daily liquid is allowed. Elevated protein in the urine is determined if the amount of protein more than 50 mg is detected in the daily volume.

Protein may temporarily increase after:

• long stay in the cold;
• regular emotional stress;
• transferred viral diseases;
• intense physical activity;
• excess protein products in the diet.

After the cessation of the provoking causes, the indicators return to normal. Increased protein in the urine should not be ignored. The load and vulnerability of the genitourinary system doubles during pregnancy. The increase in protein in the urine in women carrying a baby is especially carefully monitored.

If the rules for selecting tests are violated, false or physiological albuminuria may be detected. Protein molecules are quite large and may not pass through the kidney filter. Only a small part is excreted in the urine - no more than 1%. In men, protein in urine should not exceed 0.3 g. Reasons for exceeding the norm: stress, intense training, professional activity. Urine in men always contains more protein than in women.

Manifestations and degrees

If, over time, protein molecules return to normal levels, then physiological proteinuria has occurred. It is necessary to consider the causes of pathological deviations from the norm. Acceptable levels of protein in urine in women are different from those in men. There are 3 degrees of pathological albuminuria in men.

Light - characterized by the release of up to 1 g of protein per day. Such an excess is observed in urethritis, inflammation of the bladder, urolithiasis, and renal polycystic disease. The average degree is determined in the range from 1 to 3 g per day. Such values ​​indicate pathologies of the renal tubules, glomerulonephritis. In severe cases, a urine test shows a level above 3.5 g. The protein concentration in a urine test in the morning is normal if it is less than 0.033 g/l.

Symptoms of high protein levels:

• increased body temperature;
• progressive anemia, weakness, fatigue;
• dizziness, drowsiness;
• lack of appetite.

If the indicators are elevated, additional examinations are prescribed to determine the characteristics of the disorders and causes. Blood and urine are carefully examined. This measure allows us to exclude the physiological factor.

Pathological albuminuria can be renal or extrarenal. The second is caused by an admixture of protein in cystitis, prostatitis, vulvovaginitis and is not associated with kidney diseases. A urine test shows protein in the urine of 0.1 g per day. The renal form is provoked by acute and chronic diseases. Main pathologies: kidney tuberculosis, chronic heart failure, nephritis, nephrosis, congenital pathologies.

The norm of protein in urine for women is no more than 0.1 g/l; the presence of traces of it up to 0.14 g/l is not a pathology.

Normal values ​​for pregnant women with daily urine collection are no more than 0.3 g/l. When the indicator is higher than 0.3 g/l, problems in the genitourinary system and kidneys are determined.

The higher the indicator, the more significant the problem. To determine the correct diagnosis, it is necessary to repeat the tests after 1-2 weeks. Pathologies characterized by increased norms are pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, infections, chemotherapy, tumors, leukemia, kidney or brain injuries.

To accurately determine the quantity, a daily analysis is carried out. It is done both on an outpatient basis and in hospitals. The start time of collection is fixed, for example at 6 am. Urine collection occurs throughout the day. Be sure to follow the rules of personal hygiene, avoid physical overload, exclude certain foods from the diet, and stop taking medications. After this, the total volume of urine is calculated, and 50 ml is taken for laboratory testing.

Forms and methods of treatment

A mild form of proteinuria does not have pronounced symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Sometimes the normal state of urine or its simply too foamy texture can cause alarm. Doctors recommend regularly taking tests once a year to promptly identify deviations from the norm.

The first symptom - the appearance of swelling - indicates that there is not enough protein in the blood. Depending on the etiology, prerenal, renal and postrenal proteinuria are determined. At the initial stage of urine formation, an increased amount of albumin is observed. Then reabsorption occurs into the renal tubules, so the protein in the urine is normal. The presence of deviations may not be determined by conventional methods.

Kidney diseases lead to dysfunction of the tubules, so protein substances are not fully reabsorbed into the blood plasma. Kidney diseases associated with increased secretion of albumin and other protein compounds are:

• glomerulonephritis;
• polycystic disease;
• pyelonephritis;
• tuberculosis.

Glomerulonephritis is characterized by an increased content of proteins and red blood cells in the urine. Pyelonephritis is characterized by the presence of protein substances, leukocytes, bacteria and epithelial cells. The kidneys subsequently suffer from pathologies in other organs. Why are their functions disrupted? Mostly, failure occurs with hypertension, nephropathy, vascular atherosclerosis, and diabetes.

With adrenal proteinuria, the body has increased production of normal or pathological proteins. Which means additional stress on the kidneys, which do not have time to process such a number of compounds. Increased release of hemoglobin, fever, heart attack are the reasons for the increase in protein substances.

Proteinuria is not an independent disease, but a consequence of the pathology of other organs. Inflammatory processes of the kidneys and other genitourinary organs are treated with antibiotics, uroseptics, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Diabetes mellitus requires constant use of insulin-containing medications. Hypertension requires constant monitoring and lifelong use of antihypertensive drugs.

Treatment is prescribed depending on the underlying disease, and the presence of protein is only a consequence. Monitor this indicator regularly, especially if these pathologies are present. Do not self-medicate, seek help from specialists.

An excess of protein in the urine beyond acceptable limits is called proteinuria. Proteinuria itself is not an independent disease, but is an indicator of a number of pathological or physiological conditions that can cause a deterioration in the filtration capacity of the kidneys.

If the protein in a woman’s urine is increased, the reasons may be related to anatomical and physiological characteristics (vaginal infections, pregnancy). Protein in urine also increases significantly after childbirth.

If the deterioration of kidney function is associated with ischemic changes in the vascular system of the body, an infectious lesion, then proteinuria is not directly related to gender, since only the routes of penetration of infectious agents into the kidneys differ:

• ascending infection of the kidneys due to urogenital infections (in women);
• penetration of infection directly through tissue during inflammation of the prostate gland (in men).

The mechanism of proteinuria

Proteins are the main building blocks of human tissue and, depending on the combination of amino acid composition, perform the following functions in the body:

• serve as catalysts for biochemical processes;
• participate in metabolism;
• carry out energy metabolism in tissues;
• participate in the digestive process.

Proteins of different molecular weights can be found in blood plasma:

• not exceeding 20,000 Da (Da is a unit of measurement for the molecular weight of proteins);
• exceeding 60,000 Da.

The filtration function of the kidneys is ensured by distillation of plasma through glomeruli of microscopic vessels that have low permeability due to the presence of membranes. Proteins weighing less than 20,000 Da pass through the filter and return to the bloodstream through the kidney tubules.

In a healthy body, proteins weighing more than 20,000 Da, for example, albumin, whose mass is 65,000 Da, are not able to overcome the filtration barrier. Ultimately, such a small amount of protein ends up in the urine that equipment often cannot detect its presence.

The renal glomeruli act as a filter, allowing blood plasma to pass through them.

The main factors provoking the development of pathology are:

• deterioration of the filtering capacity of the glomeruli;
• deterioration of the absorption capacity of the walls of the renal tubules.

Thus, proteinuria is a condition in which proteins with a molecular weight exceeding 20,000 Da are excreted from the body, which is a deviation from the norm.

The normal amount of protein in the urine of a healthy woman is the amount that can be visualized using modern equipment during laboratory urine testing. The norm is 0.033 g/day.

Classification

Proteinuria can be classified according to several main criteria.

For development reasons:

• arising as a result of any disease (pathological);
• arising as a result of any physiological changes (physiological).

According to the degree of manifestation (the amount of protein excreted in the urine is estimated):

• microproteinuria (protein in the urine is within the minimum acceptable norm, that is, slightly above 0.033 g/day). As a rule, such indicators do not require treatment and go away on their own;
• slight proteinuria (the protein content in the urine exceeds the permissible norms by no more than 10 times, that is, on average - 0.3 g/day). Such an increase in protein levels is observed in women with acute inflammatory diseases of the bladder and urinary tract and disappears after appropriate treatment;
• moderate proteinuria (protein in urine reaches 0.5-2 g/day, that is, on average it can increase more than 30 times). An increase in indicators is associated with necrotic lesions of kidney tissue (glomeruli, tubules), due to a long course of inflammatory processes or pathological changes due to the development of neoplasms;
• high proteinuria (protein content exceeds standard values ​​by more than 100 times and amounts to 2-3.5 g/day). As a rule, this type of proteinuria is associated with the development of chronic renal failure.

The prognosis for the treatment of high degrees of proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome (chronic renal failure) is generally unfavorable.

Using test strips, protein in urine can be detected at home.

Pathological proteinuria is a consequence of any disease of the kidneys, cardiovascular system, or endocrine disorders.

Physiological proteinuria is not associated with kidney pathologies and may be a consequence of:

• significant physical activity;
• emotional overload;
• excessive consumption of foods rich in proteins;
• increased body temperature (especially in older people and children).

Differentiated diagnosis of proteinuria in women

Speaking about the norms of protein in a woman’s urine, it should be taken into account that the test results are significantly influenced by her physiological state. To correctly assess the results, in the presence of proteinuria of any degree, a differentiated approach is required, which consists of comparing the following data:

• assessment of urine acid-base reaction;
• simultaneous presence of blood and protein in the urine;
• presence of active leukocytes;
• number of detected cylinders.

Cylinders are called formations secreted by the kidneys, formed in the renal tubules and having the appropriate shape (cylinder). Depending on the pathology of the kidneys, the cylinder may consist of protein, epithelium, red blood cells, or dark blood fragments.

The normal acid-base balance of urine is approximately pH 6; changes in acidity upward can distort the data, since destruction of the cylinders occurs and the analysis may provide incomplete information.

Laboratory methods of urine analysis include a comprehensive assessment of the content of organized sediment

The appearance of blood in the urine is a sign of damage to various levels of the urinary tract. To clarify the source of bleeding, the three-glass test method is used. To do this, a woman must fill 3 containers during urination:

• 1st fills at the beginning of urination;
• 2nd in the middle of urination;
• 3rd at the end.

If blood cells are present in the first container, this indicates pathological processes in the urethra. The appearance of blood in the last container is a sign of damage to the bladder, since at the end of urination there is a strong contraction of its walls. An equal amount of blood in all three containers or an obvious predominance in the second glass indicates kidney damage.

The presence of leukocytes and proteins indicates infection of the kidneys and urinary tract. Diagnosis of cylindruria can confirm a previously made diagnosis depending on the tissue composition of the cylinders.

When collecting urine for analysis, you should exclude the risk of vaginal discharge (leucorrhoea, pus) or menstrual blood, as this can lead to false positive results.

Table: Content of elements of organized sediment in urine in various diseases

Protein levels during pregnancy

Changes in protein concentration during pregnancy can range from acceptable 0.033 g/day to 0.3 g/day. However, elevated protein is not always an indicator of an existing pathology, since it can be caused by a mechanical effect on the kidneys from the growing uterus.

There is a scientifically proven fact that the threshold for increased protein can reach 500 mg/day without harming the condition of the fetus.

Proteinuria at the 20th week of pregnancy with a protein increase of more than 0.5 g/day may be a sign of nephropathy. Nephropathy at more than 5 months of pregnancy is one of the manifestations of toxicosis in pregnant women and is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• severe tissue swelling;
• hypertension;
• proteinuria (protein above 500 mg/day).

Swelling of the legs during pregnancy indicates insufficient kidney function

Similar symptoms are observed in eclampsia, characterized by damage to the central nervous system and accompanied by convulsive seizures that threaten premature spontaneous termination of pregnancy.

If protein is detected in the urine of pregnant women, first of all, you should ensure the presence or absence of kidney pathology. To do this, the amount of urine excreted by a woman per day is examined. If the volume of urine excreted during the night is more than during the day, the development of renal failure can be assumed.

When studying diuresis, the volume of fluid consumed per day is taken into account, as well as the timing of pregnancy, since in the first weeks diuresis occurs in larger volumes than in the last. For the same purpose, daily weighing is used, with which you can detect the retention of excess fluid in the body.

Due to the fact that the protein content in urine can change during the day, a single urine sample with elevated protein levels does not mean the presence of kidney pathology. If protein in the urine appears exclusively in an upright position, then orthostatic proteinuria is diagnosed.

In this case, several urine samples are taken during the day, the first of which is performed before getting up in the morning in a lying position. The next portions are taken after taking a vertical position and after minor physical exertion. If an increase in indicators is observed with each subsequent sample, then we can confidently say that orthostatic proteinuria occurs.

In the later stages of pregnancy, stagnation may occur in the pelvic organs, which also contribute to an increase in protein in the urine

How to properly collect urine for analysis

Before taking a urine test for protein, you must stop drinking alcohol and diuretics for 2-3 days. If diuretics cannot be discontinued due to medical indications, this should be discussed with your doctor in advance.

Immediately before the urine collection procedure, the following actions must be taken:

• perform hygiene procedures for the genitals using appropriate means;
• when filling the container, do not touch its edges with your genitals;
• before starting to urinate, spread the labia;
• Use a cotton swab dipped in clean water to wipe the urethral area;
• start urinating into the toilet;
• fill the container with urine;
• complete urination;
• Seal the container with urine hermetically.

In the case of urine collection for analysis according to the rule of three glasses, to diagnose the source of hematuria, steps 5-7 are performed in three different containers

Treatment

Treatment of proteinuria consists of eliminating the causes of the development of the pathological condition and targeted restoration of kidney function.

If the root cause is inflammatory processes, then it would be logical to use antibiotics and antibacterial agents, followed by therapy with drugs that have a nephroprotective effect:

• ACE inhibitors;
• calcium channel blockers;
• angiotensin receptor blockers.

Therapy with drugs from the ACE inhibitor group helps to achieve a lasting positive result, and in some cases, complete cure

Treatment of proteinuria in pregnant women is primarily aimed at eliminating high blood pressure and preventing the development of convulsive syndrome. For this purpose, use:

• infusions with mild antispasmodics;
• drugs to restore water-salt metabolism;
• drugs to reduce blood clotting (use with caution).

If severe nephropathy is diagnosed and there is no positive dynamics within 2 weeks, early delivery may be indicated.

Physiological proteinuria does not require drug treatment, in this case it is advisable:

• reduction of emotional and physical stress;
• limiting protein and salty foods;
• good sleep;
• to give up smoking.

Proper rest helps restore kidney function and reduce protein levels in the urine during physiological proteinuria

When detecting protein in the urine of women, first of all, it is necessary to find out why this deviation occurred. The list of diagnostic procedures includes not only a set of urine tests, but also a study of indicators of the rate of filtration capacity of the kidneys.

Unfortunately, pregnancy imposes multiple limitations on the possibilities of diagnostic procedures, but under certain conditions, quite informative results can be obtained that allow you to select the optimal therapy.

One of the abnormalities in a general urine test is the presence of elevated protein levels.

A more accurate determination of the protein composition of urine allows us to obtain a biochemical study of urine. This condition is referred to as proteinuria or albuminuria.

In healthy people, protein in the urine should be absent or detected in extremely small quantities. Therefore, if a high level of protein is detected in the urine, immediate additional diagnostics are required.

Protein in urine - what does it mean?

Most often, increased protein in the urine appears due to inflammatory processes in the urinary system. This usually means that the filtration function of the kidneys is impaired as a result of partial destruction of the renal pelvis.

However, this is not always the case. Sometimes proteinuria appears in completely healthy kidneys. This may be increased sweating at elevated temperatures, when a person is sick with the flu or, increased physical activity, or eating a large amount of protein food on the eve of the test.

Physiological and functional proteinuria

Physiological proteinuria is characterized by an increase in the protein content in morning urine to a level not exceeding 0.033 g/l.

So, why might protein appear in the urine? This such factors contribute:

• heavy physical activity;
• excessive insolation;
• hypothermia;
• increased levels of norepinephrine and adrenaline in the blood;
• excessive consumption of protein foods;
• stressful conditions;
• prolonged palpation examination of the kidneys and abdomen.

A physiological increase in protein content in the urine of a child or an adult is not a cause for concern and does not require special treatment.

Causes of increased protein in urine

A high amount of protein in the urine is one of the undoubted signs of disruption of the normal functioning of the kidneys caused by any disease. An increase in the amount of protein in the urine can be accompanied by various diseases - they are considered the main reason for the increase in protein in the urine.

Such diseases include:

• polycystic kidney disease;
• glomerulonephritis;
• amyloidosis and renal tuberculosis.

The kidneys can be affected secondarily in certain pathologies of other organs and systems of the body. More often renal functions are impaired when:

• gestosis of pregnant women (nephropathy);
• atherosclerosis of the renal arteries.

Another group of reasons explaining why protein appears in the urine is inflammatory diseases of the lower urinary tract and genital area:

• inflammation of the ureters;
• , vulvovaginitis in women.

These are the most common causes of protein in urine. Only by conducting a more in-depth diagnosis can you determine why there is a lot of protein in the urine, and what this means in your particular case.

Normal level of proteins in urine

If the patient is preparing to take a protein test, he should not take acetazolamide, colistin, aminoglycoside and other drugs the day before. They directly affect the concentration of protein in the urine.

Healthy people should not have it. It happens that only a small amount appears. If the concentration in the body is no more than 0.03 g/l, then this is not scary. But if you deviate from this norm, you should worry.

Proteinuria is the detection of protein in the urine in concentrations exceeding 0.033 grams/liter. Taking into account daily fluctuations in the excretion (excretion) of protein in the urine (the maximum amount occurs during the daytime), to assess the extent of proteinuria, a 24-hour urine analysis is performed, which makes it possible to determine daily proteinuria.

Based on global medical standards, proteinuria is divided into several forms:

• 30-300 mg/day of protein – this condition is called microalbuminuria.
• 300 mg – 1 g/day – mild proteinuria.
• 1 g – 3 g/day – average form.
• Over 3000 mg/day is a severe stage of the disease.

In order for the tests to be correct and error-free, urine should be collected correctly. As a rule, collection is carried out in the morning, when you have just woken up.

Symptoms

A temporary increase in the level of proteins in urine does not give any clinical picture and very often occurs without symptoms.

Pathological proteinuria is a manifestation of the disease that contributed to the formation of protein molecules in the urine. With a prolonged course of this condition, patients, regardless of their age (children and adolescents, women, men), have the following symptoms:

• pain and aches in joints and bones;
• swelling, hypertension (signs of developing nephropathy);
• , detection of flakes and white deposits in the urine;
• muscle soreness, cramps (especially at night);
• pale skin, weakness, apathy (symptoms of anemia);
• disturbances of sleep, consciousness;
• fever, lack of appetite.

If you show an increased amount of protein, then you should definitely repeat the test within one to two weeks.

Protein in urine during pregnancy

The detection of protein in the urine in the early stages of pregnancy may be a sign of a hidden kidney pathology that the woman had before pregnancy. In this case, the entire pregnancy must be observed by specialists.

Protein in the urine in the second half of pregnancy may appear in small quantities due to mechanical compression of the kidneys by the growing uterus. But it is necessary to exclude kidney diseases and gestosis in pregnant women.

Why is high protein in urine dangerous?

Proteinuria can be manifested by the loss of various types of protein, so the symptoms of protein deficiency are also varied. With the loss of albumin, the oncotic pressure of plasma decreases. This manifests itself in edema, the occurrence of orthostatic hypotension and an increase in lipid concentrations, which can only be reduced if the protein composition in the body is corrected.

With excessive loss of proteins that make up the complement system, resistance to infectious agents disappears. When the concentration of procoagulant proteins decreases, blood clotting ability is impaired. What does it mean? This significantly increases the risk of spontaneous bleeding, which is life-threatening. If proteinuria consists of a loss of thyroxine-binding globulin, then the level of free thyroxine increases and functional hypothyroidism develops.

Since proteins perform many important functions (protective, structural, hormonal, etc.), their loss during proteinuria can have negative consequences on any organ or system of the body and lead to disruption of homeostasis.

Treatment

So, the possible causes of protein in the urine have already been clarified and now the doctor must prescribe appropriate treatment for the disease. It is wrong to say that it is necessary to treat protein in the urine. After all, proteinuria is just a symptom of the disease, and the doctor must eliminate the cause that caused this symptom.

As soon as effective treatment of the disease begins, the protein in the urine will gradually disappear completely or its amount will sharply decrease. Physiological and orthostatic proteinuria do not require treatment at all.