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The permissible protein content in secondary urine is: Increased protein in the urine (proteinuria). Protein in urine in pregnant women

In a general urine test, there must be a point - protein. A person begins to worry when he receives results with increased levels of it. Why is protein present, what does this mean, what levels of protein in urine are acceptable? In order to deal with this issue, you will have to go to the doctor.

Where does it come from?

This component is constituent element of enzymes, and takes part in almost all cellular processes occurring in the body. Therefore, in some quantities its formation in urine is quite acceptable, as is its absence.

Even eating large amounts of protein foods can affect. But the protein concentration quickly disappears.

Important! Despite the fact that approximately 15 percent of healthy people sometimes have protein in their urine, a negative test result is still considered the absolute norm.

The body is protected from protein entering the urethra by the so-called renal pelvis, which serve as a “wall”. Therefore, damage to this protection can cause protein formation.

In medicine, an increase in concentration is called proteinuria.

How much protein should there be in urine - acceptable standards

This is the first indicator that the doctor looks at when interpreting the results of a patient’s examination. It is impossible to visually determine the presence of protein in urine. One can only guess from the presence in it whitish impurities.

The analysis is carried out using various methods: boiling test, test strips, Brandberg-Roberts-Stolnikov study, as well as quantitative methods. Take a morning portion of the material or a daily dose.

If a protein is detected, repeated screening is carried out in two weeks, due to existing provoking factors such as nervous strain, protein foods in the diet, hypothermia.

Norms of protein in urine in women and men:

morning analysis - 0.033 g/l
daily analysis - 0.06 g/l

Norms of protein in urine in children:

morning analysis - 0.037 g/l
daily analysis - 0.07 g/l

Norms of protein in urine in pregnant women:

morning analysis - 0.033 g/l
daily analysis - 0.3 g/l

Read our article on how to lower the level of protein in your urine.

Why the norm is increased - causes of proteinuria

The reasons for the increase in protein are varied. In addition to physiological reasons, including recent acute respiratory viral infections, pregnancy, prolonged exposure to the sun, improper hygiene, etc., if there is a lot of protein in the urine, this may be a consequence of diseases:

Urinary system;
Complications of ARVI: influenza, pneumonia;
Allergy;
Pyelonephritis;
Diabetes;
Systemic diseases;
Nephropathy;
Malignant neoplasms.

In newborns, immediately after birth, there is a slight increase in protein in the urine. And it's perfect Fine.

Even a passion for proteins, a lack of water in the body, or taking high doses of vitamin C can lead to the fact that protein can “jump” to significant numbers.

Symptoms of pathology

Proteinuria is divided according to severity: traces of protein - up to 0.033; light – up to 1; moderate – up to 2 and severe – more than 3.

If the excess is insignificant, then an adult does not notice any signs. But the following symptoms may appear:

Symptoms of severe proteinuria include: increased blood pressure, migraines, sweating. If there is unpleasant odor in urine, then this indicates the progression of a pathology, for example, urethritis.

Protein in urine 0,066 - such indicators are a common occurrence during pregnancy, and are called gestational proteinuria. If there are no others, and the remaining values in the analyzes are normal, then there is no need to worry.

Protein in urine 0,033 - specialists note in the analysis - traces of protein in the urine, or trace proteinuria. Failure can occur in healthy people and does not mean kidney disease at all, especially if there are no additional signs of the disease. Causes:

Poor nutrition;
Stress;
Use of certain types of antibiotics.

The result is distorted by incorrect urine collection, that is, poor hygiene, etc.

You need to retake the test again.

Protein in urine 0,1 - indicates that there is moderate proteinuria. For pregnant women it can be regarded as the norm.

But the doctor must evaluate all indicators and prescribe additional studies to detect a kidney problem early: general blood test (it will show increased leukocytes and ESR), creatinine, urea, C-reactive protein. If necessary, an ultrasound of the kidneys, in women an additional ultrasound of the pelvic organs.

Protein for various diseases

Increased protein in the urine is a constant companion to pathologies such as cystitis, diabetes mellitus and pyelonephritis.

Acute cystitis affects people of almost all ages, but most often “loves” the fair sex. Diagnosis is based on proteinuria above 1 g/l and detection of increased leukocytes in the urine.

Plus the patient’s complaints about the strong smell of urine, painful urination and general symptoms of malaise. The patient is prescribed antibiotics and diet. It is prohibited to consume products that may provoke even greater protein growth: This is meat, fatty fish, food excessively rich in vitamin C.

Diabetics are at high risk of complications from their underlying disease: kidney dysfunction. Therefore, they need to monitor protein in their urine at least once every six months. Experts are sounding the alarm already at this indicator above 0.3 g/l. Albumin protein is determined. Its norms for patients with diabetes mellitus:

Less than 20 mg/l is normal;
20-200 mg/l – slight excess;
Above 200 – proteinuria.

To diagnose pyelonephritis, each analysis value is not assessed separately. But the characteristic picture of urine is: a pale tint, and if pus appears, it looks cloudy. White blood cells are high - more than 6 (in children the norm is up to 6). Protein is usually above 1 g/l. But density and acidity may be within normal limits.

The clinical picture of the patient’s complaints: high temperature, pain in the lower back, when urinating, weakness.

Why is proteinuria dangerous?

This pathology is fraught with the body losing various types of protein that are important for its life. As a result, for a person this will result in constant swelling, problems with blood clotting, and therefore a high risk of bleeding. In addition, problems may arise with the thyroid gland and, in fact, with any organ or system of the body.

Find out what the unpleasant smell of urine means from the video:

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

general information

Looking at the results of a urine test, you can see the code PRO - 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 provides general information about the functioning of the kidneys, urinary system and body condition. 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, the normal level is considered to be no more than 0.01 g/liter; for 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:

Microalbiminuria – 30-300 mg.
Mild proteinuria – 300 to 1 g.
Moderate degree – 1-3 g.
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 a urine test 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 the age, weight and presence of chronic diseases in the child. 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 the child has a mild 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:

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

In 5-9% of children of preschool and primary 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.

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 become a reason to suspect diabetes mellitus and hypertension;
From 300 mg per dose to 1 gram per day – this is a mild degree of proteinuria. It occurs in patients with inflammatory processes in the urinary tract, chronic nephritis, and 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 small amounts of protein. 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 values 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;
high severity burns;
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 manifest itself with a concomitant disease or with 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 all the necessary tests, including a urine test.

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 causes of this phenomenon can be temporary (external factors) or permanent (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 later stages of pregnancy, the pressure of the uterus on the kidneys can cause protein content in urine. 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 cause of proteinuria can effective treatment be selected. For example, if a patient is diagnosed with diabetes, he is prescribed a 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 folk methods 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

Pour 2 tablespoons of birch buds into a glass of plain 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

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

Increased protein in urine - what does it mean? Many patients immediately assume that they have kidney disease and go for examination, but according to the results, their kidneys may be healthy.

Oddly enough, excessive protein secretion can be observed in many different diseases, as well as in ordinary conditions that are relatively normal for the human body and do not require treatment. A specialist should help you understand exactly why protein levels have increased.

In this article we will talk about the possible reasons why protein appears in the urine, find out what symptoms are characteristic of this condition, and also get acquainted with the methods by which this deviation from the norm can be detected.

Proteinuria is a medical term that means an increase in the concentration of protein in the urine. Normally, when taking tests there should be no protein, but an error in a very small amount is allowed, up to 0.033 g/l.

The kidneys perform many different functions:

removal of water and metabolic products;
regulation of ionic and acid-base balance;
hormone synthesis, intermediate metabolism.

One of the most important mechanisms is urine formation. Glomerular and glomerular filtration are the main processes from which ultrafiltration is formed. During ultrafiltration, primary urine is formed.

With glomerular defects, protein molecules cannot be retained by the basement membrane and penetrate into the primary urine, and therefore an increased level of protein in the urine may be observed. Normally, protein molecules are too large to easily penetrate through the pores.

If protein in the urine is increased, the reasons may be physiological or pathological. Physiological causes are observed in absolutely healthy people; over time, the protein returns to normal, and most often no treatment is required.

The reasons are:

Physical activity and stressful situations can lead to the release of small amounts of protein, resulting in temporary proteinuria.
The reasons for the increase in protein in the urine are associated with eating a large amount of protein food (eggs, some types of meat, dairy products) the day before.
Late pregnancy. Most often this occurs due to mechanical compression of the kidneys due to fetal growth.
Medical manipulations, for example, active palpation of the kidneys through the anterior abdominal wall or Charcot's shower can lead to a temporary increase in protein in the urine.
Hypothermia and colds (ARVI, flu) can provoke an increased level of protein in the urine of a child or an adult.
Errors in collecting urine for analysis, namely the absence or insufficiently thorough hygiene procedures before collection, lead to the fact that the results reveal high protein in the urine of a child or adult.

Pathological causes are associated with diseases of both the kidneys and other organs and body systems, and can be as follows:

– an infectious disease during which the tissue structures of the kidney vessels are affected, resulting in their functional failure (impaired urine formation and removal of toxins). During the acute stage of this disease, leukocytes and protein in the urine are increased, in addition, other disturbances are observed: changes in density and color, reduced volume of urine excreted.
If high protein is detected in the urine, the reasons lie in the existing species. It is worth noting that proteinuria due to stones in different parts of the urinary system is quite rare. More typical is the detection of leukocytes in the urine.
– characterized by a nonspecific inflammatory process in the tissues of the kidneys and the collecting system. The presence of bacteria, as well as an increased concentration of protein in the urine of a child or adult, is detected in the results of OAM.
If there is increased protein in the urine, this may indicate specific kidney damage. which occurs in patients with diabetes. Another name for this pathology is diabetic nephropathy. Damage to the vessels of the kidneys and the formation of nodular or diffuse glomerulosclerosis occurs, with the possible development of renal failure. Protein release is characteristic of stages 2-4 of diabetic nephropathy.
Prostatitis– acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland in men. Often accompanied by changes in the general urine analysis, namely the presence of a small amount of protein, leukocytes, erythrocytes, and salts.
At there is blood in the urine, there is an increase in protein in the urine; the reasons are associated with a gradual disruption of the normal functioning of the kidneys.
Obesity 3-4 degrees- this is a condition in which the patient’s weight exceeds the recommended norm by 55-100% or more, which means an increase in weight on average twice as much as normal. The appearance of protein in the urine occurs because kidney function is impaired due to excess weight.
Why is there increased protein in the urine? The cause may be hypertension at stages 2-3. Most often, hematuria, cylindruria and proteinuria occur in patients with intercurrent diseases (i.e. those that complicate the course of the underlying disease).
Presence of non-organ-specific autoimmune diseases, like systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma, which affect the connective tissues and blood vessels of the kidneys, which causes an increase in protein in the urine. The functioning of the heart, liver, lungs, and joints is also disrupted, and the serous membranes and skin are affected.
Myeloma– another reason why protein in the urine is increased. This is a malignant disease that affects the hematopoietic system and bones. Kidney damage is typical for most patients. The presence of protein in the urine is observed, cylindruria and a large amount of Betts-Jones protein are characteristic.

Note! In some cases, increased protein in the urine of a child can be observed with long-term use of antibacterial drugs.

Urinalysis technique

Before you find out why there is increased protein in the urine, you need to actually find this very protein. To do this, the doctor writes a referral for a general urine test.

This type of analysis is very informative and is the main diagnostic test in many areas of medicine. Using analysis, you can not only determine the physical properties of urine, but also its composition.

Instructions for preparing for the study include the following recommendations:

The day before collecting biomaterial, limit the consumption of foods that tend to change the color of urine (bright fruits and vegetables, spices, sweets and smoked foods).
Limit the consumption of alcohol, vitamins, dietary supplements and diuretics (including coffee).
If possible, do not visit the bathhouse or sauna the day before, and avoid physical activity.
If the patient is taking any medications, it is necessary to notify the doctor about this.
It is prohibited to take a urine test if a cystoscopy was performed less than a week ago.

The sample should not be contaminated with foreign matter, and therefore it is recommended to follow the rules for collecting material:

For the analysis, morning urine is used, which accumulates in the bladder throughout the night.
Before collecting biomaterial, it is necessary to toilet the genital organs. This will avoid unreliable results.
Use sterile, disposable containers that have not previously been in contact with cleaning agents or detergents.
To prevent bacteria from the external genitalia from getting into the sample, it is necessary to flush a little urine into the toilet, and then, without stopping urination, collect about 100-150 ml of urine in a container without touching the skin with the container.
Biomaterial can be stored for no more than 1-2 hours at a temperature of about 5-18С. Material that was stored at room temperature is unsuitable for analysis.
Urine bags can be used to collect urine from children in the first year of life. What determines this technique of collecting from a child - the reasons for using bags are simple: collecting material from small children is quite difficult, especially if diapers are regularly used.

Based on the results of the analysis, the following is assessed:

Volume– normally about 100-300 ml, a smaller amount may indicate dehydration or renal failure. An increased amount is possible in case of diabetes mellitus or pyelonephritis.
Color– straw yellow. A change in color occurs in diseases of the liver, kidneys, and the presence of purulent inflammatory processes. Also, the color of the material may change when using various medications and vitamins.
Smell– changes with diabetes mellitus and inflammation in the genitourinary system.
Foaminess– normally absent. A large amount of foam is characteristic of proteinuria, jaundice, stress, diabetes, some metabolic disorders, etc.
Transparency– normally transparent. Turbidity can be caused by mucus, red blood cells, salts, pus and other inclusions.
Density– 1000-1025 units. An increase in indicators is characteristic of dehydration, and a decrease is characteristic of kidney disease.
Acidity– 5-7.5 pH
Ketone bodies- are a sign of diabetes.
Bilirubin– does not occur normally. Found in urine in liver pathologies.
Protein– should not occur, but the presence of no more than 0.033 g/l is allowed. Depending on the increase in protein levels in the urine, proteinuria is classified into mild (1 g/day), moderate (1-3 g/day) and severe (3 g/day or more).
Blood cells– single ones may be observed in the field of view. An increase in their number indicates kidney disease, intoxication, and autoimmune diseases.
Bacteria– are not detected normally. Their appearance is characteristic of infectious diseases of the urinary tract.
Cylinders– any types of casts are not observed in the urine of a healthy person. Their appearance indicates pathologies of the urinary tract, severe physical exertion and stress, viral infections, and hypertension.
Mushrooms– urine analysis indicates a fungal infection of the genitourinary system.
Salts– practically absent. They can be diagnosed with a sudden change in diet, dehydration, intense physical activity and some kidney diseases.

It is worth noting that the price of a general urine test is very low, and in public medical institutions this study is carried out free of charge.

From the photos and videos in this article, we were able to learn about the most common causes of proteinuria, and also looked at the technique of preparing for a general urine test.

Frequently asked questions to the doctor

Unknown reasons

Hello. I gave birth less than a week ago, the baby had a urine test and an increased amount of protein was determined. Tell me, why is there increased protein in a child’s urine?

Good afternoon. This phenomenon occurs among newborns and is not a pathology. This occurs due to the fact that the permeability of the epithelium of the glomeruli and tubules of the kidneys increases, against the background of the hemodynamics of the newborn. If proteinuria persists after the first 7-10 days of a child’s life, it makes sense to consider it pathological.

A healthy person excretes 1.0–1.5 liters of urine per day. The content of 8–10 mg/dl of protein in it is a physiological phenomenon. The daily norm of protein in urine is 100–150 mg and should not raise suspicions. Globulin, mucoprotein and albumin are what make up the total protein in the urine. A large outflow of albumin indicates a violation of the filtration process in the kidneys and is called proteinuria or albuminuria.

Each substance in the urine is assigned a “healthy” norm, and if the protein level fluctuates, this may indicate kidney pathology.

Methods for determining protein in urine

A general urine test involves using either the first (morning) portion or taking a daily sample. The latter is preferable for assessing the level of proteinuria, since the protein content has pronounced daily fluctuations. Urine is collected into one container during the day, and the total volume is measured. For a laboratory that tests urine for protein, a standard sample (50 to 100 ml) from this container is sufficient; the rest is not required. To obtain additional information, a Zimnitsky test is additionally performed, which shows whether urine levels per day are normal.

Methods for determining protein in urine
View	Subspecies			Peculiarities
Quality	Heller's test			Examination of urine for the presence of protein
	Sulfosalicylic acid test
	Boiling analysis
Quantitative		Turbidimetric	Protein from urine interacts with the reagent, resulting in reduced solubility. Sulfosalicylic and trichloroacetic acids and benzethonium chloride are used as reagents.
		Colorimetric	With some substances, the protein in the urine changes color. This is the basis of the biuret reaction and the Lowry method. Other reagents are also used - brilliant blue, pyrogallol red.
Semi-quantitative			They give a relative idea of the amount of protein, the result is interpreted by the change in color of the sample. Semi-quantitative methods include test strips and the Brandberg-Roberts-Stolnikov method.

Protein norms for women, men and children

Protein in urine normally in an adult should not exceed 0.033 g/l. In this case, the daily norm is not higher than 0.05 g/l. For pregnant women, the norm of protein in daily urine is higher - 0.3 g/l, and in morning urine the same - 0.033 g/l. Protein norms differ in a general urine test and in children: 0.036 g/l for the morning portion and 0.06 g/l per day. Most often in laboratories, analysis is carried out using two methods, which show how much protein fraction is contained in urine. The above normal values are valid for analysis performed with sulfosalicylic acid. If you used pyrogallol red dye, the values will differ by three times.

Causes of albuminuria

filtration in the renal glomeruli proceeds in the wrong way;
protein absorption in the tubules is impaired;
Some diseases put a heavy burden on the kidneys - when protein in the blood is elevated, the kidneys simply “do not have time” to filter it.

Other causes are considered non-renal. This is how functional albuminuria develops. Protein in urine analysis appears in allergic reactions, epilepsy, heart failure, leukemia, poisoning, myeloma, chemotherapy, and systemic diseases. Most often, this indicator in the patient’s tests will be the first sign of hypertension.

An increase in protein in urine may be due to non-pathological factors, so additional tests will be required.

Promotion Levels

Quantitative methods for determining protein in urine give errors, so it is recommended to conduct several tests and then use a formula to calculate the correct value. The protein content in urine is measured in g/l or mg/l. These protein indicators make it possible to determine the level of proteinuria, suggest the cause, assess the prognosis and decide on a strategy.

External manifestations

For the body to function properly, constant exchange between blood and tissues is necessary. It is possible only if there is a certain osmotic pressure in the blood vessels. Blood plasma proteins maintain such a level of pressure when low-molecular substances easily move from an environment with a high concentration to an environment with a lower one. The loss of protein molecules leads to the release of blood from its channel into the tissue, which is fraught with severe swelling. This is how moderate and severe proteinuria manifests itself.

The initial stages of albuminuria are asymptomatic. The patient pays attention only to the manifestations of the underlying disease, which is the cause of the appearance of protein in the urine.