People with proteinuria (protein in urine) have urine which carries an unusual amount of protein. This condition usually signifies some kidney disease.
If the kidneys are healthy, their filters will not permit a considerable amount of protein to pass through. However, the filters, if damaged by kidney disease, may allow protein – like albumin – to leak from the blood and enter the urine.
The overproduction of proteins in the body can also be the cause of proteinuria.
Early symptoms of kidney disease do not mostly occur. Proteinuria which can be found out by a urine test conducted during a routine physical exam can be one of the first signs of kidney disease. In order to see the current performance of the kidneys, blood tests may subsequently be carried out.
Risk Factors for Proteinuria
Here below are the two commonest risk factors for proteinuria:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Diabetes
Both of these risk factors can do harm and damage to your kidneys, causing proteinuria eventually.
Apart from high blood pressure and diabetes, there are other kinds of kidney disease which are likely to make protein enter the urine. For instance:
- Immune system disorders
- Toxins
- Medications
- Infections
- Trauma
Conditions Which Affect Your Kidneys
Overproducing proteins in the body can cause proteinuria. Multiple myeloma and amyloidosis are the two common examples.
Here below include other risk factors:
- Family history of kidney disease
- Obesity
- Age over 65
- High blood pressure and proteinuria in pregnancy
- Race: There are more chances that Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, Native Americans, African-Americans will have high blood pressure and have kidney diseases as well as proteinuria while the whites are less likely.
For some people, protein can leak into urine while they stand than while they lie down. This condition is called orthostatic proteinuria.
Treatment of Proteinuria
Since it is not a specific disease, the treatment of proteinuria relies on identifying and controlling the latent cause. It is really important to carry out suitable medical management if kidney disease is the cause of proteinuria.
Chronic kidney disease, if left untreated, will be able to result in kidney failure.
If proteinuria is mild or temporary, you may not need to treat it.
Doctors can occasionally prescribe some drugs, particularly for people who have high blood pressure and/or diabetes. Two classes of drugs that are usually recommended are:
- ACE inhibitors
- ARBs
In order to prevent the kidney damage from getting worse and leading to proteinuria, appropriate treatment – particularly in people who have chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes – is indeed very important.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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