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What Causes Excessive Protein In Urine?
Question: hello doctor,
I had a urine test. The tech said i had too much protein in my urine but i never found out what that meant. I'm not positive but i thought he said normal was around 17 and mine was like 200. what does this mean? I have a bad liver (non-alchoholic) and I am very concerned. Thank you. XXXXXXX
I had a urine test. The tech said i had too much protein in my urine but i never found out what that meant. I'm not positive but i thought he said normal was around 17 and mine was like 200. what does this mean? I have a bad liver (non-alchoholic) and I am very concerned. Thank you. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
There is significant amount of protein leaking through the kidneys
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. Protein is usually not found in urine. In a given urine sample the protein is absent. Following is the criteria for protein in urine
(i) It is taken as traces if the urinary protein concentration is 17 to 30 mg/ dl
(ii) It is taken as + if the urinary protein concentration is 30 to 100 mg/ dl
(iii) It is taken as ++ if the urinary protein concentration is 100 to 300 mg/ dl
(iv) It is taken as +++ if the urinary protein concentration is 300 to 2000 mg/ dl
(v) It is taken as ++++ if the urinary protein concentration is 2000 mg/ dl and above
2. From what your report indicated I guess the tech means you have urinary protein concentration of 200 mg/ dl and therefore it is ++
3. I guess you should do the 24 hours urine protein concentration. Normal total urinary protein excretion is less than 150 mg/24 hour, and albumin excretion in a normal person is < 30 mg. This will tell the total urine protein excreted in 24 hours and has clinical significance.
4. The above condition might be due to your kidney not functioning optimally. It is important to know the exact cause of protein leakage in your kidneys.
5. It is concerning but your condition is still in early stages and in most probability will get reversed once the cause is known and treatment given.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
There is significant amount of protein leaking through the kidneys
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. Protein is usually not found in urine. In a given urine sample the protein is absent. Following is the criteria for protein in urine
(i) It is taken as traces if the urinary protein concentration is 17 to 30 mg/ dl
(ii) It is taken as + if the urinary protein concentration is 30 to 100 mg/ dl
(iii) It is taken as ++ if the urinary protein concentration is 100 to 300 mg/ dl
(iv) It is taken as +++ if the urinary protein concentration is 300 to 2000 mg/ dl
(v) It is taken as ++++ if the urinary protein concentration is 2000 mg/ dl and above
2. From what your report indicated I guess the tech means you have urinary protein concentration of 200 mg/ dl and therefore it is ++
3. I guess you should do the 24 hours urine protein concentration. Normal total urinary protein excretion is less than 150 mg/24 hour, and albumin excretion in a normal person is < 30 mg. This will tell the total urine protein excreted in 24 hours and has clinical significance.
4. The above condition might be due to your kidney not functioning optimally. It is important to know the exact cause of protein leakage in your kidneys.
5. It is concerning but your condition is still in early stages and in most probability will get reversed once the cause is known and treatment given.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Iould this protien in the urine be from a UTI?
Brief Answer:
Research shows that UTI might cause proteinuria but requires investigation
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
There has been research in this area and following conclusions have been drawn
"There is evidence that symptomatic UTI is commonly associated with proteinuria and albuminuria and that proteinuria might improve following anti-bacterial treatment. A tubular pattern of proteinuria can discriminate between upper (pyelonephritis) and lower (cystitis) UTI, although increased excretion of tubular proteins may also be observed in non-renal febrile disease."
"The evidence supporting an association between symptomatic UTI and proteinuria is unlikely to be artefactual."
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Research shows that UTI might cause proteinuria but requires investigation
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
There has been research in this area and following conclusions have been drawn
"There is evidence that symptomatic UTI is commonly associated with proteinuria and albuminuria and that proteinuria might improve following anti-bacterial treatment. A tubular pattern of proteinuria can discriminate between upper (pyelonephritis) and lower (cystitis) UTI, although increased excretion of tubular proteins may also be observed in non-renal febrile disease."
"The evidence supporting an association between symptomatic UTI and proteinuria is unlikely to be artefactual."
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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