The maximum amount of protein in the urine. Protein in urine - what does it mean? Reasons for the increase, norm, treatment tactics

The presence of protein in urine is called proteinuria. The norm is the complete absence of protein molecules or their singular presence.

For a person, they are very important, because they take part in the construction of cells of muscle and bone tissues, epithelium. Protein is indispensable in the course of chemical reactions within systems and organs. It is necessary for the normal implementation of self-regulation of the body.

They lie in the list of certain diseases and pathological conditions:

connective tissue damage due to lupus erythematosus;
consequences of chemotherapy;
formation specific kind squirrel– M-protein;
kidney infection or inflammation;
intoxication of the body;
malignant tumor Bladder, kidney;
diabetes;
frostbite or burns of the skin;
development of arterial hypertension;
mechanical damage to the kidneys.

In addition to the above reasons for detecting protein in the urine, there are also typical ones for a certain gender and age.

What does it mean?

When protein molecules are more than normal, this signals the development of a pathological process in an adult or child. If the analysis confirms the presence of protein in the urine, you need further diagnostics to make an accurate diagnosis and start treatment.

Puberty is an exception. At this time, adolescents show an excess of the norm, but the reason here is not in the disease, but in physiology. The body is in a stage of changes, the hormonal background is unstable. At the final stage of growing up, the protein level is normalized.

When only the initial stage is observed, with timely intervention recovery is coming soon. Moderate and severe pathology requires additional examination to identify the cause and prevent the development of the disease.

During pregnancy, proteinuria is considered harmless until its levels reach the level of 500 mg / l.

What to do if proteinuria is found?

If an excess of the norm of protein molecules in urine is diagnosed, it is necessary to re-analyze after a week or two. During this time, the protein concentration should decrease naturally. If there are no changes, a detailed examination will be required.

The reason for the deviation may be problems with kidney function. It is advisable to do another blood test to get a more detailed clinical picture of the disease. Further actions will depend on what is the true cause of proteinuria.

When an excess of protein is caused by diabetes, a special menu is needed in combination with taking medications prescribed by a doctor. With arterial hypertension, you will need to monitor the pressure so that it is normal - within 140 to 80. It is advisable to control how much protein and glucose are present in the diet.

Why is protein elevated?

Its concentration may increase as a result of excessive physical activity or from the abuse of protein-rich foods.

If you stay in a standing position for a long time, overheat under the influence of sunlight, the blood circulation process may be disturbed. This will definitely affect the test results. In women in the last trimester of pregnancy, such deviations are often observed.

When the body suffers from hypothermia, severe stress, an epileptic seizure, or increased palpation of the kidneys, proteinuria will be observed. It also causes a concussion. All these reasons are considered to be physiological.

Proteinuria in women

Sometimes protein molecules end up in the urine of perfectly healthy people. Then their concentration will not be higher than 0.033 g/l.

Factors unrelated to disease

When the patient does not have any complaints, the increased protein level can be considered the result of a violation of the diet and the predominance of dishes in the menu, which include products, saturated with proteins. This applies to meat, raw eggs, milk.

Depression, mood swings and temperature, hard physical labor and medication cause a similar reaction of the body.

Pathological causes

Among them, in the first place are cystitis and pyelonephritis. This is followed by inflammatory processes in the ureters, kidneys and bladder.

The third reason is the presence of stones in the organs of the urinary system. Pathology can develop against the background of diabetes, ovarian cysts, renal tuberculosis or cancer, leukemia.

Sometimes it's about hypertension, infection pathogenic microorganisms or mechanical deformation of organs. Chemotherapy and brain concussion also affect protein levels.

Exceeding the norm in men

When it is associated with pathological processes, they have a different origin. Some problems are localized in the glomerular structures, while others - in the renal tubules. There is a third subgroup of reasons - physiological.

Glomerular proteinuria

It develops against the background of nephrotic syndrome, which is manifested by a disorder in the functioning of the kidneys, a decrease in the concentration of protein in the blood and its excretion with urine. Accompanied excess cholesterol. In the worst cases, tumor foci are considered the cause of the pathology.

Often, damage to the glomerular part of the kidneys is observed in inflammatory processes caused by pathogenic microorganisms, toxins, poisons, medicines or drugs.

Damage to the renal tubules

It progresses due to a genetic predisposition to pathology, frequent drug intoxication, with a lack of potassium and an excess of D vitamins.

Long-term use of antibiotics, the accumulation of salts of heavy metals in the body lead to to the deformation of the tubules of the kidneys and proteinuria.

The reason may be in the formation of nodular growths that affect the internal organs and tissues, or in their inflammation.

Physiological reasons

These include fever, overload of the body after exhausting physical labor or sports. This is the most common cause of proteinuria in men.

What is the norm?

There is no single criterion, it depends on gender and age. In children and in the representatives of the stronger and fairer sex, the protein norm will differ significantly.

Limits in men

For them, the normal concentration of protein is considered to be value from 0 to 0.3 g/l. The maximum value is found during heavy physical exertion, depression, frostbite or hypothermia.

Norm in a child

In newborns, protein molecules are present in the urine, but gradually their level stabilizes. This is due to the attempt of the urinary system to establish its functioning in a new environment - outside the womb.

In children preschool age there should be no protein in urine at all, or it is desirable that the indicator be no higher than 0.025 g / l. normal orthostatic protein in adolescence a value of 0.7-0.9 g / l is considered. With repeated tests, its concentration is always less.

Healthy value in women

The level of protein molecules in the urine is equal to normal if it fluctuates between 0-0.1 g / l. for women in position, up to 30 mg / l is considered the norm.

Excess protein in children

Identification of excess protein in children's urine can be both a harmless phenomenon and a symptom of the disease. In a child that has just been born, the content of protein molecules in the urine is the norm. Infants are characterized by the appearance of proteinuria after overfeeding.

In adolescents, excess protein is observed within the orthostatic period. It has nothing to do with pathology. In the interval from 6 to 14 years, the concentration of protein in males reaches 0.9 g / l.

This is due to the fact that the urinary system, under the influence of the hormonal background and the active growth of the body, is modified and finally formed. This happens during motor activity- from morning to evening. Night urine is not distinguished by an excess of protein molecules.

For girls, deviations from the norm are characteristic in the case of development inflammatory processes into the vagina. Then you should limit the use of salt, undergo a course of treatment.

During late pregnancy

For women in position in the last trimester, excess protein is a common occurrence. On baby and condition future mother this does not affect until the level of proteinuria exceeds 500 mg / l. Then further testing is required. Perhaps an excess of protein molecules is caused by an inflammatory process.

Non-pathological causes

Often, proteinuria later dates due to the presence in the menu of products that are saturated with protein vegetable or animal origin. Its excess can be explained by active physical labor, experienced depression or nervousness, the use of medicines or vitamins before collecting urine.

Causes of a pathological nature

Toxicosis in the last term often worries pregnant women, causing proteinuria. Malfunctions in the functioning of the kidneys, diabetes mellitus, traumatic factor, nephropathy, infection internal organs also leads to excess protein.

The reason may be in connective tissue deformities, problems with blood pressure, the formation of tumors or cysts, burns or intoxication of the body, allergic reactions or heart disease.

Index 0.2 g/l

In the composition of urine, protein molecules are always present.

If there is a slight deviation from the norm, this will not necessarily indicate the development of the disease and health problems.

Increases protein concentration during exercise exercise, playing sports or dancing, from dehydration, under the influence of cold or extreme heat, from allergens, after a nervous strain, under the influence of stress factors. Then the repeated analysis of a proteinuria does not reveal.

If the protein in urine is 0.033 g/l

In this case, there may be several reasons for its excess:

allergic reaction;
angina disease or infection with staphylococci;
burn skin lesions;
fever;
a malignant tumor affecting the kidneys;
traumatic experience;
blockage of the renal arteries;
stones in the kidneys;
various kinds of jade;
low immunity;
diabetes;
pressure problems.

If you have been diagnosed with proteinuria, go re-examination and don't jump to conclusions.

Urinalysis can be clearly attributed to one of the most common, necessary, informative and inexpensive methods for examining a person's condition. By changes in it, one can draw important conclusions about the activity of the kidneys, pathological processes in the heart, liver, endocrine diseases, metabolic disorders, etc. One of the informative components of this study is protein. In a healthy person, only slight traces of this compound are sometimes determined. Most often in the form of albumins (up to 49%), mucoproteins, globulins (up to 20%), glycoproteins of the mucous membranes of the urinary organs.

note

If the number of protein structures increases sharply, then laboratory assistants determine a condition called proteinuria.

Protein content in urine (norm and pathology)

Protein should not enter the urine. Its loss leads to the development of protein deficiency. But protein traces can be determined in about 20% of patients.

Physiological protein losses are acceptable up to a value of 0.033 g / l in the test portion (per day, a person normally loses no more than 30-50 mg). In children under one year of age, protein is not determined. From 1 year to 14 years from 120 to 150 mg / day.

In pregnant women, up to 30 mg is considered the norm. A level of 30 to 300 mg indicates microalbuminuria, from 300 and above - macroalbuminuria. In expectant mothers, a daily rate of 500 mg or more indicates a state of preeclampsia, a dangerous complication.

Degrees of protein loss per day:

Light (initial) up to 0.5 g;
Moderate (average) - from 0.5 to 2 g;
Severe (pronounced) more than 2 g.

Types and causes

By origin, proteinuria can be divided into 2 large groups - renal and extrarenal.

Renal develops with:

acute - immuno-inflammatory damage to the glomerular apparatus of the kidneys,
early stages of chronic glomerulonephritis - a long-term progressive pathology of the glomerular apparatus with diffuse spread,
nephrotic syndrome,
(developing in the 2nd half of pregnancy),
violations of the process of blood supply to the renal tissue with the development of stagnation in the systemic circulation (with heart problems),
tumor processes,
drug disease leading to impaired renal physiological functions,
hereditary pathologies (cystinosis, galactosemia, Lowe's syndrome, Fabry's disease, etc.),
complications a,
poisoning with toxins, salts of heavy metals,
metabolic disorders (potassium),
hypervitaminosis D,
abuse of certain types of drugs,
systemic connective tissue diseases (),
some infectious diseases (, rash and, infectious mononucleosis, etc.)

The renal form of proteinuria is caused by damage to the main structural unit of the kidney - the nephron, which leads to an increase in the size of the pores of the renal filtration apparatus. The subsequent slowdown in the progress of blood in the glomeruli of the nephron leads to an increased yield of protein fractions.

Extrarenal pathology is characteristic for:

most lesions and diseases of the urinary tract;
prostate ailments;
some types of anemia;
liver diseases, with a violation of the antitoxic and synthetic functions of this organ.

note

The increase in the values of the indicator can be against the background of severe fever, stressful conditions, increased physical overload, with the introduction of doses of adrenaline. These proteinuria are non-pathological.

How is protein in urine determined?

There are a lot of methods used by laboratories to determine the presence of protein structures in the urine. There is no need to describe their complex names. Let us dwell only on the essence of the research.

From a diagnostic point of view, it is important quality study of the composition of protein ingredients.

The most significant components are blood plasma proteins, which are able to penetrate through the broken structure of the nephron glomerulus. With a limited violation, we are talking about small sizes of protein structures (albumins). This should tend towards the presence selective proteinuria.

As a result of the complete destruction of the renal filter (against the background of the course of severe forms of nephropathy), protein molecules penetrating into the urine are almost identical to plasma ones. This state is called globular proteinuria, observed in severe, amyloidosis,.

The qualitative composition is determined by samples: ring, with sulfacyl acid, boiling, etc.

quantitative analyzes aim to determine the degree of proteinuria. Electrophoretic, colorimetric, turbidimetric and immunochemical methods cope with this task most successfully.

The degree allows you to determine the severity of the process.

Normally, the following percentages can be traced in protein traces:

albumins - 20%;
alpha-1 globulins - 12%;
alpha-2 globulins - 17%;
beta globulins - 43%;
gamma globulins - 8%.

With a change in the quantitative composition, conclusions can be drawn about the presence of individual pathologies.

For example, the predominance of alpha-2 and gamma globulins indicates lupus erythematosus, amyloidosis.
The low value of these indicators indicates signs of chronic nephrotic.
In multiple myeloma, globulins dominate albumin, and a specific Bence-Jones protein appears.
Fibrin characterizes bladder tumors.

A correct assessment of the detected changes allows diagnosing at a fairly accurate level. Much in this case depends on the qualifications and knowledge of the doctor.

note

When collecting urine for analysis, hygiene rules must be carefully observed to exclude the possibility of contamination of the material by external elements.

We recommend reading:

What are the symptoms of protein in the urine?

Low values of protein elements are rarely accompanied by pathological signs.

If the duration and amount of proteins increases, then patients develop:

Expressed (talking about the loss of protein structures).
, especially diastolic (lower) - a sign of emerging nephropathy.
Weakness, lethargy, poor appetite.
Drawing pains in the joints, muscles, periodic convulsive manifestations.
Subfebrile figures of body temperature (37-37.3 ̊ C).

Already when passing urine, you can pay attention to the presence of foaminess, a cloudy appearance with a white precipitate (leukocytes), a brownish tint of varying intensity. Particularly noteworthy is the pronounced (at).

The appearance in the urine of protein, leukocytes and erythrocytes at the same time indicates serious pathological changes and requires an immediate finding of the cause, followed by emergency treatment.

From the materials of the article you will learn about the protein in the urine, what it means in women, is it normal, how to be treated. Proteins (proteins) are a necessary component of all living structures. They provide a structural function, metabolic processes, are catalysts for many biochemical reactions, and also implement the transport of other molecules.

Determining the level of protein in the urine is the first step in the diagnosis of kidney pathologies. In addition, analysis is necessary to determine the effectiveness of the chosen treatment tactics.

Total protein in the urine is a laboratory analysis that allows you to identify kidney pathologies at an early stage with a high degree of certainty, as well as to diagnose secondary damage to the glomerular apparatus in chronic diseases.

In a healthy person, a small amount of protein molecules is excreted with urine due to the presence of a filtration mechanism in the glomeruli of the kidneys. The filter is able to prevent back diffusion of large charged molecules into the primary filtrate. It is known that small peptide molecules (molecular weight up to 20 kDa) are able to freely penetrate through the filtration mechanism, while high molecular weight albumin (65 kDa) is retained by them.

The presence of protein in the urine is a signal for the appointment of an additional extended examination of the patient. This fact is due to the fact that normally the overwhelming concentration of peptide molecules undergo reabsorption into the bloodstream in the convoluted tubules of the kidneys. However, only a small amount is excreted in the urine. About 20% of the total amount of secreted peptides are low molecular weight antibodies (immunoglobulins), while 40% are albumins and mucoproteins.

What is the analysis for?

A referral for analysis to determine the total protein in the urine can be issued by a general practitioner, nephrologist, endocrinologist or cardiologist. It is used for the purpose of:

early diagnosis of pathological conditions of the kidneys (focal sclerosing glomerulonephritis, membranous glomerulonephritis or degenerative kidney disease);
diagnostics of cardiovascular pathologies;
differential diagnosis of the cause of edema;
detection of violations of the normal functioning of the kidneys against the background of diabetes, Libman-Sachs disease, as well as in amyloid degeneration;
determining the likelihood of developing chronic kidney failure;
evaluating the effectiveness of the chosen drug treatment tactics and preventing the development of recurrent pathologies.

To whom can an analysis be ordered?

The study is prescribed for patients with diabetes mellitus, as well as for symptoms of malfunctioning of the kidneys:

excessive swelling of the lower extremities or face;
accumulation of free fluid in the peritoneal cavity;
unexplained weight gain;
stable high blood pressure for a long time;
blood when urinating;
a sharp decrease in the amount of urine excreted per day;
increased drowsiness and decreased performance.

In addition, the rate of protein in the urine in men and women should be determined during a routine annual examination. The analysis is of particular importance for patients at risk: age over 50 years, tobacco and alcohol abuse, as well as the presence of aggravating factors in the family history.

Table of norms of protein in the urine in women by age

Important: the data presented are for informational purposes only and are not sufficient to make a final diagnosis.

Only the attending physician has the right to decipher the results of the study, who determines the diagnosis and prescribes the appropriate treatment based on the patient's general history, as well as data from other laboratory tests and instrumental studies.

The standard unit of measure is mg/day, however, some laboratories use g/day. The conversion of units of measurement is made according to the formula: g / day * 1000 = mg / day.

It should be noted that the selection of reference (normal) values should take into account the gender and age of the patient.

The table shows the permissible concentrations of protein in the urine of healthy women, selected according to age.

It has been established that after intense strength training, an increased protein content in the urine is recorded, the value of which reaches 250 mg/day. However, the concentration of the parameter in question should return within the reference values within 1 day.

The rate of protein in the urine of a man

Normally, protein in the urine in men, as in women, should either be completely absent or be present in trace amounts. The maximum allowable values are 150 mg / day.

Proteinuria - pathology or norm?

Proteinuria is a condition in which a patient has elevated protein in the urine. In the vast majority of cases, this condition does not belong to pathologies, but is a variant of the norm or the result of improper preparation of the patient for the delivery of biomaterial (physical or emotional overwork, acute stage of the infectious process or dehydration).

Elevated protein is diagnosed in approximately 20% of the healthy population. In this case, proteinuria is considered as a variant of the norm. Only 2% of this condition is the cause of a serious pathology. With benign proteinuria, protein in the urine in men and women is recorded at a concentration of 200 mg per day or less.

Orthostatic proteinuria

Separately, orthostatic proteinuria is distinguished - a condition characterized by an increased concentration of total protein only after a long walk or being in a horizontal static position. This fact explains the discrepancy in the results in the presence of orthostatic proteinuria: positive in the study of daily urine and negative in the diagnosis of a single portion. According to statistics, this condition occurs in 5% of the population under 30 years of age.

Increased protein in the urine can also be detected as a result of its active synthesis in the human body, which leads to the need to enhance the processes of filtration by the kidneys. In this case, there is an excess of the possibility of reverse absorption of protein molecules in the renal tubules and their diffusion into the urine. This state is also a variant of the norm.

The exception is situations when not low molecular weight organic peptides are detected, but specific molecules, for example, Bence-Jones protein. It is known that the sensitivity of the method is not enough to determine the concentration of this protein. If there is suspicion of a malignant lesion of the epithelial tissue (myeloma), it is necessary to undergo a screening urine test for Bence-Jones protein.

When is proteinuria a pathology?

A condition characterized by an increase in protein in the urine over a long period of time accompanies various pathologies of the urinary organs. Depending on the mechanism of occurrence, it is customary to subdivide proteinuria into:

glomerular, which occurs against the background of a violation of the integrity of the basal membrane of the renal glomeruli. It is known that the basement membrane acts as a natural barrier that prevents the diffusion of large molecules with a charge, and when it is damaged, free flow of proteins into the urine is noted. This condition can be an independent pathology or occur as a result of an underlying disease, for example, diabetes mellitus (from 30 to 500 mg of protein per day). Another cause of glomerular proteinuria is the use of medications;
tubular - the result of a disorder in the process of reabsorption of substances in the renal tubules. In this case, a lower protein is recorded in the urine test (no more than 200 mg per 1 day), compared with the glomerular type. The most common cause of this condition is a complication of hypertension.

Other reasons for exceeding the norm

The reasons for the increase in protein in the urine in men and women are also:

infection of the organs of the urinary system with pathogenic microorganisms, for example, cystitis or urethritis;
oncology of the bladder;
vulvitis, vaginitis, etc.
chronic heart failure;
inflammation of the inner lining of the heart;
extensive injuries;
intestinal obstruction.

Preparation for analysis

The reliability of the results obtained by the patient primarily depends on his preparation for the test. The material for the study is a single portion of morning urine. Or all the urine collected by the patient himself during the day.

Before collecting biomaterial for 24 hours, alcohol intake should be excluded. As well as fatty and smoked dishes. For 48 hours, it is necessary to abandon the use of diuretics. And for women to collect biomaterial - 2 days after menstruation or before it.

How to reduce protein in urine?

In order for the increased protein in the urine in men, women and children to return to normal values, it is necessary to first establish the cause of its deviation from the norm. False positive results indicating proteinuria are often detected in the morning portion of the biomaterial in the analysis for the criterion under consideration. That is why, if a deviation from the norm of protein in the urine is detected, a second analysis is prescribed.

Depending on the initial cause, the appropriate treatment for protein in the urine is prescribed. In the case of an infectious disease, it is necessary to determine the type of pathogenic microorganism that provoked it. After that, a test is carried out to determine the sensitivity of the isolated bacterial species to various groups of antibiotics. The most effective antibacterial drugs are prescribed to the patient.

In the case of arterial hypertension, drugs that reduce blood pressure are selected, and in case of oncopathologies, a course of chemotherapy is determined.

Diet with increased protein in the urine

One of key points in the treatment has a refusal to smoke and alcohol. As well as dieting. Patients are advised:

limit the amount of salt consumed to 2 g per day;
exclude meat and fish in order to reduce protein intake;
drink no more than 1 liter of liquid per day (including juices, soups, tea);
eat rice dishes and sour-milk products with a low percentage of fat content, as well as raw and steamed vegetables;
give preference to rosehip tea and currant fruit drinks.

Protein in the urine - treatment with folk remedies

Important: traditional medicine methods cannot act as the main therapy for high protein content in the urine.

The priority treatment should remain the one prescribed by the attending physician from the methods of official medicine. This fact is argued by the fact that decoctions and infusions of herbs are not effective enough to completely cure the underlying disease. They can only have an auxiliary effect and enhance the effect of certain drugs.

Bee products provide positive influence on immunity due to pronounced antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, they are able to strengthen the wall of blood vessels and serve as a source of vitamins. By agreement with the doctor, it is permissible to use alcohol and water decoctions based on propolis. Restriction for use is individual intolerance to the waste products of bees. You should also consume a large number of fresh berries and fruit drinks based on them.

It is important to understand that the treatment folk remedies the norm of protein in the urine of a man and a woman is not restored immediately. The minimum duration of the course should be 3-4 weeks.

conclusions

Thus, summing up, it is necessary to highlight the important points:

protein in the urine of men, women and children is normally completely absent. Or its concentration does not exceed 150 mg per day;
the presence of proteins in the analysis is not always a signal of pathology. However, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination in order to establish the cause;
if protein and leukocytes are found in the urine, then additional laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods are prescribed. The cause may be an infectious disease or cancer;
the sensitivity of the method is not enough to diagnose the Bence-Jones protein, which is a marker of oncology of the urinary organs.

The determination of the presence of protein in the urine is carried out using a biochemical analysis of urine. Normally, the protein should either be completely absent, or be present in trace amounts, moreover, temporarily.

The filtration system of the kidneys physiologically screens out high-molecular buns, while small structures can be absorbed into the blood from the urine even in the renal tubules.

The rate of protein in the urine

For men

The limiting norm of protein content in the urine for the stronger sex is considered to be up to 0.3 grams per liter - this concentration can be explained by powerful physical shock loads on the body, stress, and hypothermia. Anything above this value is pathological.

For kids

For most cases, children should not normally detect protein. The maximum value of this parameter should not exceed 0.025 grams per liter of urine. A deviation from the norm in the range of up to 0.7-0.9 grams per liter of urine is sometimes observed periodically in boys, aged six to fourteen years - this is the so-called orthostatic or postural protein. It appears, as a rule, in daytime urine and is a feature of the work of the kidneys during the adolescent puberty of the stronger sex, most often due to increased physiological activity, against the background of a long stay of the body in an upright state. In this case, the phenomenon is not periodic, i.e. in a repeat sample, often the protein is not identified.

For women

For pregnant women - up to thirty milligrams is considered the norm, from thirty to three hundred milligrams - microalbuminuria. At the same time, a number of studies show that the concentration of up to three hundred milligrams of protein per liter of liquid in the classical daily biochemical analysis in the later stages does not cause complications for the mother and fetus, so this indicator can be attributed to physiological proteinuria.

Causes of high protein

Elevated protein in the urine can be caused by a variety of reasons.

Physiology

Powerful physical activity.
Excessive consumption of food rich in protein.
Prolonged standing in an upright position with a corresponding violation of blood flow.
Late pregnancy.
Prolonged exposure to the sun.
Hypothermia of the body.
Active palpation of the kidney area.
Powerful stress, concussion, epileptic seizures.

Pathology

Congestion in the kidneys.
Hypertension.
Nephropathy of various etiologies.
Amyloidosis of the kidneys.
Pyelonephritis, genetic tubulopathies.
tubular necrosis.
Rejection of transplanted kidneys.
Myeloma.
Hemolysis.
Leukemias.
Myopathies.
Feverish conditions.
Tuberculosis and kidney tumors.
Urolithiasis, cystitis, prostatitis, urethritis, bladder tumors.

What does high protein in urine mean?

In adults and children

Exceeding normal levels in adults and children usually means the presence in the body of physiological or pathological problems that require identification, proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Exceptions, as mentioned above, are made for the stronger sex in adolescence if the increase in protein concentration has an irregular non-systemic character.

Mild degrees of proteinuria (up to one gram of protein per liter of urine) are usually eliminated quite quickly, moderate (up to 3 g / l) and severe (over 3 g / l) require not only the highest quality diagnosis, but also a rather long complex treatment, since they are usually caused by serious pathologies.

In pregnant women

Modern studies show that physiological changes in the body of pregnant women, especially in the later stages, with a protein concentration of up to 0.5 grams per liter of urine do not adversely affect the fetus and woman, however, if the above parameters exceed the specified boundary 500 milligrams / liter of urine, then a representative of the fair sex in an interesting position will need a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, of course, taking into account her physiological state, as well as a competent assessment of the risks for the unborn child.

Treatment

Specific treatment of proteinuria, regardless of the gender and age of the patient, is aimed at eliminating the causes of the pathological condition, as well as neutralizing negative symptomatic manifestations.

Since elevated protein in the urine can be caused by a number of factors, a specific therapy is prescribed by a qualified doctor only after a thorough diagnosis of the patient and an accurate definition of the disease or physiological condition.

With moderate and severe manifestations of proteinuria with the manifestation of nephrotic syndromes of various etiologies, a person requires hospitalization, bed rest, a special diet with a maximum restriction in salt and fluids. The groups of drugs used (depending on the cause of the condition) are immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, cytostatics, anti-inflammatory / antirheumatic, antihypertensive drugs, ACE inhibitors, as well as blood purification by hemosorption or plasmaformesis.

If a person has mild proteinuria caused by an orthostatic or functional factor, then medications are usually not used: the normalization of circadian rhythms, the correct selection of the diet, and the rejection of a number of bad habits are relevant.

Useful video

One of the deviations in the general analysis of urine is the presence of an increased level of protein.

A more accurate determination of the protein composition of urine allows you to get 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 found in extremely small quantities. Therefore, upon discovery high level protein in the urine requires immediate additional diagnosis.

Protein in urine - what does it mean?

Most often, increased protein in the urine appears during 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 with completely healthy kidneys. This may be increased sweating at elevated temperature, when a person is sick with the flu or, increased physical activity, use on the eve of the analysis a large number protein food.

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.

And so, why can there be protein in the urine? This contributing factors:

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 the 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 high protein in the urine

A high amount of protein in the urine is one of the undoubted signs of a violation 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 cause of the increase in protein in the urine.

Such diseases include:

polycystic kidney disease;
glomerulonephritis;
amyloidosis and tuberculosis of the kidneys.

The kidneys can be affected secondarily in certain pathologies of other organs and body systems. Often renal function is impaired:

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

Another group of reasons explaining why protein appeared 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 the urine. Only by conducting a more in-depth diagnosis, you can determine why a lot of protein appeared in the urine, and what this means in your particular case.

The rate of proteins in the 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 not 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 at concentrations exceeding 0.033 grams / liter. Taking into account the daily fluctuations in the excretion (excretion) of protein in the urine (the maximum amount falls on the daytime), to assess the extent of proteinuria, an analysis of daily urine is performed, which makes it possible to determine daily proteinuria.

Based on world 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 - the average form.
Over 3000 mg / day - a severe stage of the disease.

In order for the analyzes to be correct and error-free, urine should be collected correctly. As a rule, the collection is made in the morning, when you just woke 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 in patients, regardless of their age (in children and adolescents, in women, men), the following symptoms are present:

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

If it showed an increased amount of protein, then it is imperative to perform a second study within one to two weeks.

Protein in urine during pregnancy

Detection of protein in urine early dates Pregnancy may be a sign of a latent kidney pathology that a woman had before pregnancy. In this case, the entire pregnancy should be observed by specialists.

Protein in the urine in the second half of pregnancy in small amounts may appear due to mechanical compression of the kidneys by the growing uterus. But it is necessary to exclude kidney disease and preeclampsia 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 the plasma decreases. This manifests itself in edema, the occurrence of orthostatic hypotension and an increase in lipid concentration, which can be lowered only 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. With a decrease in the concentration of procoagulant proteins, the coagulation ability of the blood is disturbed. What does it mean? This greatly increases the risk of spontaneous bleeding, which is life-threatening. If proteinuria consists in the loss of thyroxin-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 in proteinuria may have Negative consequences on any organ or system of the body and lead to disruption of homeostasis.

Treatment

So, possible reasons protein in the urine has already been clarified and now the doctor must prescribe the appropriate treatment for the disease. To say that it is necessary to treat protein in the urine is wrong. After all, proteinuria is just a symptom of the disease, and the doctor must deal with the elimination of the cause that caused this symptom.

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