Causes of high levels of protein in urine. Increased protein in the urine of a child: signs and how to reduce it? What does increasing protein levels mean for a person?

The human body is constantly changing, and very often it is overtaken by certain diseases. What to do if protein is found in the urine? What does this mean and how to deal with the problem?

About the disease

Every person has protein in their urine. This is normal, this is how it should be. However, there are situations when its accumulation exceeds acceptable indicators, and then we can already talk about a disease such as proteinuria. Simply put, when understanding why it appeared and what it means, it is worth noting that this is an improper functioning (pathology) of the kidneys. If its indicators in the studied material exceed 50 mg per day, you can already sound the alarm. However, proteinuria can be true (really associated with pathology), false or functional (not associated with renal diseases).

Functional proteinuria

I would like to dwell in more detail on functional proteinuria, because if a person has true proteinuria, it is unlikely that he will not know anything about this disease. So, why can seemingly healthy people have increased protein in their urine? What does this mean and what does it mean? The reasons for its increase may be the following: prolonged hypothermia, stress or depression, prolonged insolation (staying in open sunlight) and even physical activity (especially among weightlifters). Protein can also increase after consuming large quantities of raw milk and eggs on the day before submitting your own biomaterial for research. An analysis from a person who collected the material incorrectly can also give incorrect indicators, especially for women. Protein can get into the container if it is inflamed bladder, ureter, urethra, and also if tests are being collected during menstruation. And another main reason for the increase in protein in the urine is the woman’s pregnancy.

Pregnancy

Many women who have gone through such a difficult stage as pregnancy know that protein in the urine is not good. But what exactly does this mean? So, it can appear in increased quantities in tests as a result of difficult kidney function, when they simply cannot cope with their responsibility, and the protein in an undigested form can be excreted through the urine (the lady’s new physiological state is to blame). Protein can also be affected by early toxicosis, consumption of certain foods that may give undesirable results in tests. But in addition to simple and not terrible reasons, it may indicate a woman’s diseases such as gestosis or nephropathy, which pose a threat even to the baby himself. Therefore, if it turns out to be slightly higher during pregnancy, this means that you need to retake the test, adjust your own diet, and also carefully monitor your blood pressure and the appearance of edema.

Children

It is also important to find out why protein in a child’s urine may increase, causes and methods of treatment of this disease. So, it is worth noting that it is very important for children to undergo certain tests periodically in order to early stages identify diseases that may develop in children's body. But it also happens that a child (older or teenager) has orthostatic proteinuria, which is completely harmless to the body. To determine it, you need to collect two portions of urine: the first in the morning, the next throughout the day. If no protein is detected in the first one, everything is fine. There is no need to worry about its increase during the day. If, during the analysis, small child Protein is detected in urine, what does this mean? This may indicate kidney disease. However, before making a diagnosis, any doctor will double-check the tests to accurately rule out an error.

The presence of protein in the urine can be a signal of a malfunction in the body, since in a healthy person, during a urine test, it is absent or present in minimal quantities. How to decipher the analysis, and in what cases is it appropriate to use the expression “deviation from the norm”? Let's look further.

Protein levels in urine - what do they mean?

The indicators by which the presence of protein in urine is determined depend on how much protein in milligrams is excreted in the urine per day:

• Within 30-300 mg - indicate microalbuminuria, that is, the presence in the urine of one type of blood protein - albumin. This diagnosis may indicate earlier kidney damage or give rise to suspicion of diabetes and hypertension;
• From 300 mg per knock to 1 gram per day – this is a mild degree of proteinuria. It occurs in patients with inflammatory processes in urinary tract, chronic nephritis, urolithiasis;
• From 1 gram to 3 grams of protein in urine per day – they talk about moderate proteinuria, which is diagnosed in acute tubular necrosis and hepatorenal syndrome;
• From 3 grams per day – this means the patient has severe proteinuria. This means that the patient's glomerular filtration barrier function in relation to protein size is impaired or the patient suffers from nephrotic syndrome.

The urine of a healthy person may contain protein in a small amount. These indicators usually do not exceed 0.033 g/l, and are considered normal for protein in the urine. Often such indicators are recorded as a complete absence of protein in the urine.

The normal levels do not differ depending on a person’s gender, which means that the normal level of protein in the urine of adult women and men is the same and amounts to up to 0.033 g/l.

Any deviations from the norm are a reason to undergo a full examination in order to exclude or prevent the risk of developing such serious diseases as diabetes, heart failure, nephrotic syndrome and kidney disease.

Causes of protein in urine

The following common causes of protein in the urine are considered:

• arterial hypertension at a progressive level;
• inflammatory or;
• mechanical damage to the kidneys;
• prolonged exposure to the cold;
• poisoning by toxins;
• burns high degree heaviness;
• cancer or tumor diseases of the kidneys.

You should not try to diagnose yourself. Only a qualified doctor can determine the exact cause of the appearance of protein in the urine.

Symptoms of increased protein in urine

As a rule, the presence of protein in urine does not have its own symptoms. You can even say that protein in the urine is a symptom that signals a malfunction of an organ such as the kidneys. Proteinuria can only occur when concomitant disease or in a pathological condition.

But, proteinuria may be accompanied by symptoms that indicate problems with the kidneys. These symptoms include:

• Painful sensations in the hands;
• Anemia (see also – ?);
• Fatigue and decreased performance;
• Edema;
• Chills and high fever;
• Decreased appetite;
• Nausea and vomiting;
• Change in urine color;
• Drowsiness ().

Finding one of the above symptoms should be a reason to consult a doctor and give everything necessary tests, including urine analysis.

Protein in a child's urine

Young children, as I rule, if there are no other indications for this test, donate urine during the vaccination period twice a year. The results of the analysis are interpreted as follows:

• Normal indicators can be considered if the level of protein in the urine does not exceed 0.036 g/l;
• When this indicator increases to 1 g/l per day, we can already talk about moderate proteinuria;
• When a urine test shows a protein level of 3 g/l or higher, this is severe proteinuria, which means the development of some kind of kidney or urinary tract disease.

When children have high levels of protein in their urine, there may be a decrease in the level of this substance in the blood, which leads to high blood pressure and edema. In such cases, you should not postpone consultation with a specialist.

Protein in urine in pregnant women

There are often cases when protein is found in urine in women who are expecting the birth of a baby. The reasons for this phenomenon may be temporary ( external factors), and constant (inflammatory processes).

The main reasons for the appearance of protein in the urine of women during pregnancy include:

Changes in hormonal levels;

Kidney diseases;

Pressure of the uterus on the kidneys;

Preeclampsia.

In more late dates During pregnancy, the protein content in urine may be caused by the pressure of the uterus on the kidneys. This is a normal physiological process, but in order to exclude more serious pathologies and kidney diseases, the indicators cannot be ignored; you still need to establish the exact cause and undergo an examination.

But gestosis can cause dysfunction of the placenta, which will lead to the fact that the fetus in the womb will not be able to receive enough food and oxygen for full development. This condition is dangerous because it does not manifest itself outwardly, that is, a pregnant woman may not even be aware of the presence of this problem.

It is important to understand that during pregnancy, all test readings can change every day. Thus, it is possible to determine that protein in the urine of pregnant women indicates the development of pathology only after a complete examination.

Often, by the time of birth, the protein in the urine is completely gone, and the mother meets her baby in this world already completely healthy and strong.

How to take a urine test correctly?

Its reliability depends on how urine is collected for analysis. Only urine collected in the morning, and on an empty stomach, will be suitable for analysis.

For analysis, you need to prepare a container for urine - a special jar with a wide neck. It can be bought at a pharmacy. But, even if the container was purchased at a pharmacy, it must be thoroughly washed and dried before analysis.

If a urine test is required for an infant, a special urine bag can be used as a container for urine. Such bags are put on the child’s genitals under a diaper.

You cannot use the contents of unscrewed diapers for urine analysis, as this will not bring a reliable result.

The genitals of both adults and children must be clean. Therefore, before urinating, you should wash yourself using soap.

All these procedures are done in the morning, immediately after waking up. The day before, it is not recommended to eat fried foods, as well as foods that contain a lot of protein.

Treatment of increased protein in urine

Only by establishing the exact reason why proteinuria occurred can one choose effective treatment. For example, if a patient is diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, then he is prescribed special diet. If you do not follow this diet, your blood protein levels will either remain the same or increase, which can lead to serious kidney problems.

The doctor prescribes individual treatment, which depends on the stage of a particular disease, how it progresses and what is caused.

It is impossible to find treatment options on your own, but you can take some measures to reduce protein levels in your urine. Such measures include traditional methods, how to reduce the level of protein in urine.

Cranberry juice

Squeeze the juice out of a handful of cranberries and cook the skins of the berries for 15-20 minutes. Wait until the resulting broth has cooled and add berry juice to it. For sweetness you can add 1 tsp. honey or granulated sugar. Drink fruit juice a few minutes before breakfast.

Parsley seed infusion

20 grams of parsley seeds should be crushed and poured with a glass of boiling water. This drink is infused for 2 hours, after which it must be drunk throughout the day, dividing the entire volume received into several doses.

Birch buds

2 tablespoons of birch buds should be poured into a glass ordinary water and bring to a boil. While the broth is hot, pour it into a thermos and leave for an hour and a half. When the decoction is infused, it should be taken 3 times a day, 50 grams.

Fir bark tincture

The third part of a 1 liter jar should be filled with fir bark. Fill the rest of the jar with boiling water. This medicine should be infused only in a water bath for 1 hour. You need to take 50 grams of infusion half an hour before each meal.

Decoctions for prevention

Also suitable as preventive measures take various herbal tinctures. The most suitable are decoctions made from corn, oats, pumpkin seeds and golden mustache leaves.

Passing through the kidneys, the blood is filtered - as a result, only those substances that the body needs remain in it, and the rest is excreted in the urine.

Protein molecules are large, and the filtering system of the renal corpuscles does not allow them to pass through. However, due to inflammation or other pathological reasons, the integrity of the tissues in the nephrons is disrupted, and the protein passes freely through their filters.

Proteinuria is the appearance of protein in the urine, and I will discuss the causes and treatment of this condition in this publication.

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Two types of proteins are found in the urine of women and men - immunoglobulin and albumin, and most often the latter, which is why you can come across the concept of albuminuria. This is nothing more than widespread proteinuria.

The presence of protein in urine occurs:

• Transient, associated with fever, chronic diseases outside the urinary system (tonsillitis, laryngitis) and functional causes - dietary habits (a lot of protein in the diet), physical fatigue, swimming in cold water.
• Constant, which is due to pathological changes in the kidneys.

Proteinuria is also divided into types depending on the amount of protein (units - g/l/day):

• trace - up to 0.033;
• mild - 0.1-0.3;
• moderate - up to 1;
• pronounced - up to 3 or more.

There are many reasons for protein in the urine, and the first place is occupied by kidney pathologies:

• pyelonephritis;
• lipoid nephrosis;
• amyloidosis;
• glomerulonephritis;
• polycystic kidney disease;
• nephropathy in diabetes mellitus;
• kidney carcinoma;
• obstructive uropathy.

Among the causes of blood diseases increased protein myeloma, leukemia, plasmacytoma, myelodysplastic syndrome may appear in the urine. These pathologies do not damage the kidney tissue, but increase the load on them - the level of proteins in the blood increases, and the nephrons do not have time to completely filter them. Protein inclusions in urine also appear with urethritis and prostatitis.

Marked increase in protein in urine may cause the following violations:

• inflammation of the genitourinary organs;
• tumors in the lungs or gastrointestinal tract;
• kidney injuries;
• CNS diseases;
• intestinal obstruction;
• tuberculosis;
• hyperthyroidism;
• subacute endocarditis caused by infections;
• arterial hypertension;
• chronic hypertension;
• intoxication of the body due to poisoning and infectious diseases;
• extensive burns;
• sickle cell anemia;
• diabetes;
• congestion in heart failure;
• lupus nephritis.

Physiological increase in protein in urine temporary and is not a symptom of any disease, occurs in the following cases:

• high physical activity;
• prolonged fasting;
• dehydration.

The amount of protein excreted in the urine also increases in stressful situations, when norepinephrine is administered, and when certain other medications are taken.

At inflammatory diseases may be detected elevated protein and leukocytes in urine. Common cause pyelonephritis, diabetes mellitus, blood diseases, genitourinary system infections, appendicitis.

Leukocytes, along with protein, are present in urine analysis and due to the intake of aminoglycosides, antibiotics, thiazide diuretics, and ACE inhibitors.

There should be no red blood cells in the urine. Protein, red blood cells and white blood cells appear in the urine due to injuries, inflammation of the kidneys, tumors in the urinary tract, tuberculosis, hemorrhagic cystitis, stones in the kidneys and bladder.

This is a serious signal - if you do not find out the exact cause and do not start treatment on time, the disease can develop into kidney failure.

The norm of protein in urine in women and men

The urine of a healthy person contains protein no more than 0.003 g/l- in a single portion of urine this amount is not even detected.

For the volume of daily urine, the normal value is up to 0.1 g. For protein in urine, the norm is the same for women and men.

In a child up to 1 month. normal values ​​are up to 0.24 g/m², and in children older than a month it decreases to 0.06 g/m² of body surface.

Foods that increase protein in urine

Excess protein food increases the load on the kidneys. The body does not have the ability to accumulate excess proteins - reserves of substances and energy are always stored as fat or burned during physical activity.

If you follow a protein diet or your diet is dominated by such foods, then excess protein will inevitably increase. The body needs to either convert it (into fat with a sedentary lifestyle, into muscle mass and energy during movement). But the rate of metabolic processes is limited, so there will come a time when the protein begins to be excreted in the urine.

If you eat a lot of protein foods, it is important to consume at least 2.5 liters of clean water every day and move actively. IN otherwise The kidneys will not be able to filter urine normally, which can lead to metabolic disorders and the development of urolithiasis.

Other products also reduce the filtering capacity of the kidneys:

• Alcoholic drinks irritate the organ parenchyma, thicken the blood, increasing the load on the urinary system;
• Salty and sweet foods retain water in the body, slowing down its free movement - congestion and swelling develop, which
• Increases blood toxicity - this negatively affects the functioning of the kidney filters.

Symptoms of a pathological increase in protein in the urine

Mild proteinuria and trace amounts of protein in the urine do not manifest themselves in any way. In this case, symptoms of diseases that led to a slight increase in this indicator may be observed, for example, an increase in temperature due to inflammation.

With a significant presence of protein in the urine, swelling appears. This occurs because due to the loss of proteins, the colloid osmotic pressure of blood plasma decreases, and it partially leaves the vessels into the tissues.

If protein in the urine is elevated for a long time, the following symptoms develop:

1. Painful sensations in the bones;
2. Dizziness, drowsiness;
3. Fast fatiguability;
4. Fever due to inflammation (chills and fever);
5. Lack of appetite;
6. Nausea and vomiting;
7. Turbidity or whitishness of urine due to the presence of albumin in it, or redness if the kidneys pass red blood cells along with protein.

Signs of dysmetabolic nephropathy are often observed - high blood pressure, swelling under the eyes, on the legs and fingers, headaches, constipation, sweating.

Is it normal to have high protein in urine during pregnancy?

The volume of circulating blood in a woman’s body during this period is increased, so the kidneys begin to work harder. The normal level of protein in urine during pregnancy is considered to be up to 30 mg/l.

When analysis values ​​are from 30 to 300 mg, they speak of microalbuminuria. It can be caused by an abundance of protein foods in the diet, frequent stress, hypothermia, and cystitis.

An increase in protein to 300 mg or more is observed with pyelonephritis and glomeluronephritis.

The most serious condition in which protein in the urine increases during pregnancy is gestosis. This complication is accompanied by an increase in blood pressure, edema, and in extreme cases, convulsions, cerebral edema, coma, bleeding and death. Therefore, it is important for pregnant women to pay attention to any symptoms and regularly take urine tests.

It happens that even in the background proper nutrition and absence of symptoms, the presence of protein in the urine of women is detected. What does it mean? Trace amounts of protein can be detected if hygiene is not observed during urine collection.

• In this case, vaginal discharge, which contains up to 3% free proteins and mucin (a glycoprotein consisting of carbohydrate and protein), enters the urine.

If there are no obvious reasons, and the protein in the urine is more than normal, undergo a thorough examination - perhaps some disease is occurring in a latent form.

Treatment tactics, drugs

To prescribe the correct treatment, the doctor needs to find out the cause of proteinuria. If protein release is associated with the physiological state of the body, then therapy is not carried out.

• In this case, it is recommended to review your diet, reduce stress, and be less nervous (the doctor may recommend mild sedatives).

Inflammatory diseases

The causes of increased protein in the urine in women and men, associated with inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system, are treated with antibiotics and restoratives.

Antimicrobial drugs are selected taking into account the sensitivity of the pathogen, the form of the disease and individual characteristics sick.

When treating pyelonephritis, the following are indicated:

• antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin, Cefepime);
• NSAIDs to reduce inflammation and pain (Diclofenac);
• bed rest during exacerbation;
• supportive herbal medicine (diuretic herbs, rose hips, chamomile, Monurel);
• drinking plenty of water;
• diuretics (Furosemide);
• Fluconazole or Amphotericin are indicated for fungal etiology of the disease.

In case of sepsis (symptoms of suppuration - severe pain, increased temperature, decreased pressure), removal of the kidney is indicated - nephrectomy.

For glomerulonephritis, antimicrobial drugs are prescribed with restriction of proteins and salt. Cytostatics, glucocorticoids, hospitalization and bed rest are indicated in case of exacerbation.

Nephropathy

The level of protein in the urine increases with nephropathy. The treatment regimen depends on the underlying cause (diabetes, metabolic disorders, intoxication, gestosis in pregnant women) and is determined individually.

For diabetic nephropathy, careful monitoring of blood glucose levels is necessary, and a low-protein, salt-free diet is indicated. Among the drugs prescribed are ACE inhibitors, agents for normalizing the lipid spectrum ( a nicotinic acid, Simvastin, Probucol).

In severe cases, Erythropoietin is also used to normalize hemoglobin, a hemodialysis procedure, or a decision is made about a kidney transplant.

Preeclampsia in pregnant women

Gestosis during pregnancy can occur in four forms, or stages:

• dropsy - edematous syndrome develops;
• nephropathy - failure of the kidneys;
• preeclampsia - cerebrovascular accident;
• eclampsia is an extreme stage, a precomatous state, a threat to life.

Any form requires immediate hospitalization and hospital treatment. The woman is advised to rest completely and eat a salt-restricted diet.

Drug therapy includes:

• sedatives;
• relieving vascular spasms (drip administration of magnesium sulfate is often used);
• replenishment of blood volume using isotonic solutions and blood products;
• means for normalizing blood pressure;
• diuretics to prevent brain swelling;
• administration of vitamins.

Why is high protein in urine dangerous?

Proteinuria requires timely identification and elimination of its cause. Increased protein in the urine without treatment is dangerous for the development of the following conditions:

1. Reduced sensitivity to infections and toxins;
2. Blood clotting disorders, which can lead to prolonged bleeding;
3. If thyroxine-binding globulin leaves the body in the urine, then there is a high risk of developing hypothyroidism;
4. Damage to both kidneys, death due to nephropathy;
5. With gestosis in pregnant women - pulmonary edema, acute renal failure, coma, hemorrhages in the internal organs, threat of fetal death, strong
6. Uterine bleeding.

An increase in protein in the urine does not allow self-medication - by contacting a specialist in time, you can avoid the development of severe complications.

To find out about the condition of the urinary system, you need to take a urine test. I prescribe it to everyone, starting with childhood for any disease to determine. One of the main indicators is the amount of protein. His increased level is a pathology called proteinuria, or albuminuria.

general information

Looking at the results of a urine test, you can see the PRO code - this is what is meant by the protein contained in the urine. There are two standard tests that determine PRO concentration and daily loss:

Whatever analysis is carried out, the following rules must be followed, otherwise the result may be unreliable:

OAM gives general information about the functioning of the kidneys, urinary system and the condition of the body. If the kidneys do not work properly and the integrity of the kidney tissue is damaged, protein gets into the urine.

The level of protein in urine is different for adults and children of a certain age; this is determined by the growth of the kidneys and the rapid division of cells in the body. In adults, the normal level remains unchanged, but after 50-60 years, a slight excess of the norm is acceptable due to age-related characteristics.

Protein in adults

The kidneys of an adult person pass through themselves from 50 to 100 grams of protein bodies in 24 hours. During their normal functioning, protein should not enter the urine at all or in extremely small quantities. An increase in this indicator may indicate the development of serious pathologies of the urinary system and other internal organs.

Protein levels in urine for different tests

In adults, the permissible PRO content in morning urine should not exceed 0.033 g/l. In some laboratories this amount is considered negative and may not be reported. For diagnosis, the results of not only a general urine test are important, but also the level of daily protein loss.

Often the presence of protein in urine can be explained by errors in nutrition or improper hygiene before collecting the material. An experienced doctor will not make even a preliminary diagnosis without repeated studies.

OAM reveals the amount of protein contained in one portion of urine. For men normal indicator the level is considered to be no more than 0.01 g/liter; in women, the permissible protein content is up to 0.03 grams. If the level of protein in the urine exceeds the acceptable level, it is necessary to undergo a daily loss test.

The normal amount of protein bodies excreted in the urine per day is from 40 to 80 mg. A slight excess does not indicate pathologies of the urinary system, but if the value is above 150 mg, then proteinuria is diagnosed. According to statistics, only two out of 100 people diagnosed with proteinuria have serious illnesses.

Determination of proteinuria by different methods

The degrees of proteinuria for men and women, depending on the daily result, are as follows:

1. Microalbiminuria – 30-300 mg.
2. Mild proteinuria – 300 to 1 g.
3. Moderate degree – 1-3 g.
4. Severe proteinuria - more than 3 g.

There are several types of proteinuria: glomerular, tubular and extrarenal, and to determine the type of pathology, it is necessary to know the quantitative indicator of leukocytes and red blood cells in the urine. The daily loss does not determine the cause of the deviation from the norm, therefore, if the results are poor, additional examinations are necessary: ​​studies according to Nechiporenko, Zemnitsky and others.

During pregnancy, this indicator may be slightly exceeded, as the load on the kidneys increases, especially in the 9th month. To control the amount of protein, the woman has to take a weekly OAM, and if the PRO increases in the results, hospitalization is required.

Normal in children

Protein in a child’s urine should normally be absent or in small quantities.

A slight deviation from the norm in urine analysis can be caused by overexertion after physical exertion, increased sweating or sudden hypothermia. For each age there is a certain protein norm.

When obtaining tests, the doctor must take into account age, weight and presence chronic diseases The child has. A method is also used that determines the norm of indicators based on body surface area (Table 1).

Table 1 – Maximum PRO content

Child's age	Concentration in mg/l. (OAM)	Daily value (possible fluctuations)	Daily norm based on body surface area in mg/m² (deviations within normal limits)
Premature babies in the first month of life	88-845	29 (14-60)	182 (88-377)
1 month, full-term babies	94-455	32 (15-68)	145 (68-309)
From 2 months to one year	70-315	38 (17-87)	109 (48-244)
From 2 to 4 years	45-217	49 (20-121)	91 (37-223)
From 4 to 10 years	50-223	71 (26-194)	85 (31-234)
Teenagers	45-391	83 (29-238)	63 (22-181)

In children, the kidneys filter from 30 to 50 grams of protein per day, while the total amount of PRO in urine should not exceed 0.14 g per day. Even a slight increase to 0.15 g indicates that baby light degree of proteinuria.

Before you panic, you need to retake the test. The day before, you need to exclude fatty and salty foods from the child’s food for the result to be reliable.

It is also worth knowing that excess protein in the urine in children in the first two weeks of life is considered acceptable, this is explained by the peculiarity of the functioning of the kidneys in a newborn.

There are three degrees of PRO increase in children:

1. Light – 0.15-0.5 g/day.
2. Moderate – 0.5-2 g/day.
3. Severe – over 2 g/day.

In 5-9% of preschool and younger children school age a mild degree of proteinuria is detected as a consequence of inflammation. That is why it is important to treat infectious diseases in a timely manner.

In children from 10 to 16 years of age, the rate increases; this may be due to increased growth and the onset of puberty. The amount of protein should not exceed 391 mg. Also, a slight excess of daily protein excretion at the age of 6 to 9 years can be considered a normal indicator.

If any abnormalities appear, it is necessary to re-examine the urine and conduct additional examinations to exclude or confirm serious pathologies.

The amount of protein in morning urine that should not be a cause for concern varies depending on age. If we take PRO into account in OAM, then in children under 2 years of age the morning urine portion should not contain more than 0.025 g/l, from 2 to 16 years old - 0.7-0.9 g/liter.

Along with PRO, the level of leukocytes, erythrocytes and the presence of acetone must be taken into account in urine results. The combined presence of these indicators may mean that a serious disease is developing in the child’s body. Therefore, taking urine tests must be approached very responsibly.

30 Sep 2014

Urinalysis is considered one of the most common tests. It is prescribed to almost everyone, regardless of complaints. This is due to its simplicity and information content. Moreover, among all the determined indicators, the protein level plays an important role in assessing the state of the excretory system.

Determination methods

All methods are divided into several groups:

1. qualitative - they only determine the presence or absence of protein in the urine, for example, the Heller test;
2. semi-quantitative - determine the presence and allow you to roughly estimate the amount of protein in the urine, for example, a study using test strips;
3. quantitative - determine the exact amount of protein in the urine, for example, the colorimetric method.

Quantitative methods are most often used, as they are the most informative. There are two main tests to determine the level of proteins in the urine - general analysis urine and determination of daily protein loss.

A general blood test involves examining a morning urine sample. Before the study, it is recommended not to eat spicy, smoked foods, large amounts of protein foods, alcohol, or use aspirin, penicillin, or sulfonamide drugs. If it is impossible to stop taking medications, you should tell your doctor about it so that he can adequately assess the results.

In order to determine the daily excretion of protein, it is necessary to submit for examination all the urine excreted during the day. On the day of urine collection, you should also limit the consumption of the above foods and medications.

Normal protein in urine

In most healthy people it is not detected at all, or it is less than 0.033 g/l. When examining 24-hour urine, no more than 0.03–0.05 g of protein per day is normally detected. The indicators for men and women do not differ.

The normal amount of protein in the urine of a child is slightly different from that of adults. So in children under one month it is 0.24 g/m2/day, and in children over one month old – 0.06 g/m2/day.

The mechanism of normal kidney function

The kidneys are made up of large quantity nephrons in which urine is formed. Blood passes through the capillary system through the basement membrane of the nephron glomeruli. This membrane is a kind of filter that does not allow blood cells and large proteins to pass through, but allows a few small protein compounds to pass through. This is how primary urine is formed, the amount of which reaches 150 liters per day.

Then it passes through a system of tubules. During this process, the proteins that did manage to pass through the filter disintegrate and are absorbed back into the blood. They also absorb water and minerals necessary for the body. Thus, secondary urine is obtained, which is excreted by the body in an amount of about 1.5 liters.

Causes of protein in urine

There are several reasons:

• glomerular – associated with impaired filtration in the glomeruli;
• tubular – associated with impaired protein absorption in the tubules;
• due to excess load on the kidneys due to various diseases.

Promotion Levels

Increased protein content in the urine is called proteinuria. For convenience, it is divided into several levels:

• trace proteinuria - the amount of protein in the urine does not exceed 0.033 g;
• microalbuminuria – 0.03 – 0.3 g/day;
• mild proteinuria – 0.3–1.0 g/day;
• moderate proteinuria – 1.0–3.0 g/day;
• severe proteinuria – more than 3 g/day.

External manifestations

Trace proteinuria, microalbuminuria and mild proteinuria often do not manifest themselves at all. The only thing that can be noticed are other symptoms of the disease that caused the appearance of protein in the urine. For example, during inflammatory processes there will be signs of intoxication and an increase in temperature.

Moderate and severe proteinuria is accompanied by massive edema. They appear because due to the large loss of protein by the body, the oncotic pressure of the blood plasma decreases, and this leads to its release from the vascular bed into the tissue.

Trace proteinuria

Sometimes even completely healthy people have protein in their urine. At the same time, the protein level is not higher than 0.033 g/l. Such indicators, if there are no other symptoms, are not a sign of kidney disease. The appearance of trace proteinuria may be associated with:

• eating disorders;
• stress;
• increased body temperature;
• the use of certain medications.

Major diseases

Daily loss of protein in urine is typical for the following kidney diseases:

• glomerolonephritis;
• amyloidosis;
• diabetic nephropathy;
• tubulointestinal nephritis;
• polycystic disease

In addition, changes may appear in the following blood diseases:

• leukemia;
• multiple myeloma;
• myelodysplastic syndrome.

In these cases, the loss of protein is not associated with improper functioning of the kidneys, but with an increase in the load on them, since a lot of protein appears in the blood, which the kidneys do not have time to filter.

Indicators in pregnant women

Pregnant women should undergo a general urine test at certain intervals. This is necessary to monitor the condition of the mother’s body. Trace proteinuria in women during pregnancy may indicate a high load on the kidneys during this period. Microalbuminuria appears in inflammatory kidney diseases. They very often occur during pregnancy, especially if the woman has had kidney problems before.

A large amount of protein in the urine in the second half of pregnancy is one of the signs of gestosis. Gestosis is a very dangerous condition that requires treatment and constant monitoring by doctors. It is impossible to make any diagnosis based on proteinuria alone, because it is just a symptom. In order to understand the reasons for its appearance, you need to analyze all the symptoms and obtain additional information about the state of the body.