Protein in Urine: What Does It Mean and How Can You Manage It?

Protein is one of the most important compounds in the body, responsible for its proper functioning. It helps build and repair the body’s tissues, maintains pH and fluid balance, strengthens the immune system, and drives metabolic reactions. Therefore, the presence of protein in the urine, a waste product of the body, is a matter of great concern and demands medical attention.

In this article, we discuss what high protein in urine means, its causes, symptoms, and different ways to manage it.

What does Protein in Urine Mean?

A small amount of protein in urine is considered normal, but its presence above a certain level can indicate a kidney disease. Kidneys are vital organs of the body that filter waste products from the blood and remove excess water from the body in the form of urine. Small blood vessels in the kidneys called glomeruli absorb any protein in this waste to prevent its passage with urine.

When kidneys stop filtering the blood due to some damage, large amounts of protein can pass through the urine. This condition is known as proteinuria.

What are the Causes of Proteinuria?

Sometimes, protein can be present in urine for the short term. This can be due to intense exercise, dehydration, or an unbalanced diet. However, the presence of protein in urine in the long term can be due to severe causes that lead to kidney damage. Some of the protein in urine causes include:

1. Chronic kidney disease in which the kidney stops functioning properly. If it progresses with time, it can lead to kidney failure.
2. Autoimmune diseases like Goodpasture syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and IgA nephropathy, in which antibodies attack the glomeruli, leading to kidney damage.
3. Preeclampsia is a condition during pregnancy in which the kidney temporarily loses its ability to filter protein.
4. Several types of cancer, like renal cell carcinoma, lung cancer, multiple myeloma, breast cancer, or colorectal cancer, can also cause kidney damage.
5. Inflammation of the urinary tract due to a tumour or urinary tract infection (UTI).
6. Glomerulonephritis, which is the inflammation of glomeruli.
7. Type 1 or type 2 diabetes, in which elevated blood sugar can damage the blood vessels of the kidney.
8. High blood pressure can weaken the blood vessels of the kidney, reducing their ability to reabsorb protein during filtering.

What are the Symptoms of Proteinuria?

In most cases, the symptoms of proteinuria are not noticeable in the early stages and tend to appear only as kidney damage advances. Some of the symptoms of protein in urine include:

1. Bubbly, frothy, and foamy urine
2. Swelling in hands, feet, belly, or face
3. Nausea or vomiting
4. Loss of appetite
5. Shortness of breath
6. Frequent urination
7. Muscle cramps at night
8. Upset stomach

How is Proteinuria Diagnosed? 

A urine test or urinalysis is conducted to detect the amount of protein in urine. The test can be performed multiple times if there are higher amounts of protein in the urine sample. If the protein levels keep increasing over more than three months, it can indicate chronic kidney disease.

How to Manage Protein in Urine? 

Temporary proteinuria does not require any treatments and can be cured on its own. Long-term proteinuria can be managed based on the underlying cause. If it’s due to kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or other medical conditions, doctors may prescribe certain medications.

Treatment also includes making dietary changes and having a diet low in sodium, protein, and sugar. Losing weight also reduces stress on the kidney, especially in persons with kidney issues due to obesity. For severe kidney damage or failure and glomerulonephritis, dialysis may also be needed, which is a treatment that replicates the kidney’s functions.

A small amount of protein in the urine can be considered normal, but the problem arises when protein levels become consistently high in urine. This can be an indication of an underlying disease, which can result in severe complications if left untreated.

It’s essential to be aware of the symptoms of proteinuria for timely diagnosis of the underlying cause, thus preventing further damage to kidneys.

If one notices symptoms of proteinuria, one should consult their healthcare provider and book a protein in urine test with Dr Lal PathLabs for accurate diagnosis.

FAQs 

1. What are the causes of proteinuria?

The temporary causes of proteinuria or urine filled with protein include dehydration, intense exercise, or an unbalanced diet. The more severe causes can be diabetes, cancer, autoimmune diseases, chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, or inflammation of the glomeruli.

2. What is a urine culture test?

A urine culture test checks for urinary tract infection (UTI) by detecting the presence of bacteria or fungi in a sample of urine.