Proteinuria

Proteinuria can be an important sign of kidney disease. The cause of your proteinuria may be unknown as of yet, and it is generally a symptom of another condition. Regardless of cause, increasing amounts of protein in urine generally increase the risk of worsening kidney function in the future and should be investigated. Here’s what to know if you are dealing with a new diagnosis of proteinuria.

What Is Proteinuria?

Proteinuria is defined as the presence of protein in the urine. Anyone can have protein in their urine. In fact, a small amount of protein in your urine is normal. Levels that go above established benchmarks qualify as proteinuria and can be a sign of common kidney conditions or other illnesses.

Proteinuria is not a disease, but instead an indicator of other health conditions that affect the kidneys. Sometimes damage to the kidneys could mean that the filters (glomeruli) that typically keep protein in the bloodstream are allowing it to instead escape into the urine. This could be evidence of glomerular disease. Other common conditions like hypertension and diabetes can cause proteinuria.

Symptoms of Proteinuria

Patients may be dealing with early stages of proteinuria without any visible or noticeable symptoms. However, once the following symptoms are noted, a nephrology doctor should be consulted for testing and diagnosis:

• foamy or bubbly urine
• pronounced swelling (edema) in the face, feet, ankles, or abdomen
• shortness of breath

These symptoms, paired with test results that show abnormally high levels of protein in the urine, verify proteinuria and could be evidence of advancing chronic kidney disease. The only way to know if protein levels in urine are high is to have a urine test. This test is called the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). Albumin is a common protein found in the body, and in fact proteinuria is sometimes referred to as albuminuria. If a test shows very high levels of albumin in the urine, this may be called nephrotic-range proteinuria and is an indicator of significant kidney damage or disease that requires immediate medical attention.

Causes of Proteinuria

Persistent–or chronic–proteinuria can be a sign of kidney damage and a reason to seek diagnosis and treatment from a trusted team of nephrology doctors. Proteinuria could point to concurrent issues like diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, glomerulonephritis, autoimmune disorders, preeclampsia, and various systemic diseases.

Those who have a family history of kidney disease and begin to experience symptoms of proteinuria should seek medical evaluation as soon as possible to diagnose and treat any existing kidney conditions.

Treating Proteinuria

Because proteinuria is not a condition, but instead a symptom of something else, a positive proteinuria test must lead to further examination and testing. Eventual treatment will vary, depending on the underlying cause of proteinuria. For instance, kidney inflammation, hypertension, and diabetes will all require different treatments, but in the end, proper treatment should reduce proteinuria.

In order to determine the underlying condition and establish a treatment regimen, nephrology doctors may order various other tests, such as:

• Blood tests
• 24-hour urine test
• Imaging tests (CT scan, ultrasound)
• Kidney biopsy

Working with experienced nephrology doctors ensures that patients have the necessary expertise and treatment options available for the very best care and outcome possible.

Some common changes in addition to condition-specific treatment could include:

• Certain medications
• Quitting smoking
• Diet changes

While adequate hydration is important for overall health and especially important for those who have various kidney conditions, drinking water will not help to resolve proteinuria.

Your Local Nephrologist in Akron, Ohio

At Northeast Ohio Nephrology Associates, Inc., we are here to help individuals dealing with acute and chronic kidney conditions, along with related issues, like proteinuria. Our skilled nephrology doctors can help to develop personalized treatment plans and provide cutting-edge therapy options, all while assisting with practical needs, like lifestyle modification, education, and patient support. Contact us today to learn how you can become a patient and begin your journey to better kidney health!