Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 In a message dated 3/31/2005 2:48:03 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, writes: Hi. My doctor's office called me with blood work and urinalysis results. They said that I have protein in my urine and that it didn't look well over all. They want me take another urinalysis. What does it mean to have protein in my urine? Thanks, Anita ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi Anita, This is called proteinuria. It can be indicative of diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, a few other things, diet, or nothing at all. One urinalysis will not tell. Normally, when blood passes through the kidneys, the kidneys filter out the bad stuff, and leave the things that the body needs. They generally leave the proteins, because the body needs them, and proteins are normally too big to be filtered out. When there is inflammation, that doesn't happen. The inflammation can be caused by anything, and might not be something serious. Don't get stressed about it, until the repeat urinalysis is done. If there is a problem, then look at the causes and how to address them. Barb RN, Holisitic Healthcare Consultant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2005 Report Share Posted April 6, 2005 Hello Ms Guest, My names Renato Alexander, coping with multiple sclerosis, and, undaunted, managed to email you a rather heartfelt 'story' of how I've been dealing successfully with it. Improvements have actually been quite surreal and just wished I could share my experience with you. I already have hardly any self-esteem left that I'm aware of- we tend to be hypersensitive at times- so the fact that you didnt acknowledge my initial display of enthusiasm, surprisingly, didnt adversly affect me.. and Im sure its by virtue of the seemingly miraculous improvements that Ive had, even emotionally, thank God. I think I may have inadvertingly offended you, in which case I extend my most humble apologies! Sincerely, Renato --- JoAnn Guest <angelprincessjo wrote: > > > Proteinuria JoAnn Guest Apr 05, 2005 11:15 PDT > > Author: Cheryl Curtis, MSN, RN, CNN > > http://web.ask.com/redir?u=http%3a%2f%2ftm.wc.ask.com%2fr%3ft%3dan%26s%3da7%26ui\ d% > > > > Proteinuria is a condition in which urine contains > an " excess " amount of > protein. > > Proteinuria is often one of the first signs of renal > disease and is > often asymptomatic. Proteinuria is a finding in > almost every form of > glomerular disease. > > Protein Handling in Normal Kidneys > In a healthy kidney, the glomerular capillary wall > acts as a barrier to > prevent proteins from entering the urine based on > size and electrical > charge of the proteins. This is dependent on the > integrity of the > capillary wall. > > The glomerular capillary wall consists of three > layers: the fenestrated > endothelium, the glomerular basement membrane, and > the epithelial cells > attached to the glomerular basement membrane. > > The primary barrier to the filtration of protein is > the glomerular > basement membrane. (1) > > If the glomerulus is intact, only trace amounts of > albumin escape in the > glomerular filtrate. Proteins that are smaller than > albumin (< 68,000 > daltons) are filtered and reabsorbed by the proximal > tubule. > > In most circumstances, up to 1500 mg of protein is > filtered every 24 > hours. Most of this is reabsorbed by the proximal > tubule, where the > protein undergoes catabolism. > > As a result, as much as 150 mg of protein is > excreted daily in the > urine. Tubular proteinuria occurs when the proximal > tubule is damaged > and interferes > with the reabsorption of protein. (2) > > In glomerular injury, the size and the > charge-selective barriers of the > glomerular capillary wall may be altered. The > glomerular capillary wall > normally has a fixed negative charge. This allows > the wall to repel > negatively charged plasma proteins. > > (2) In normal kidneys, low molecular-weight proteins > and small amounts > of albumin are filtered. These proteins are > reabsorbed by the proximal > tubule and are catabolized. This results in a daily > protein excretion of > approximately 40-80 mg. (1) > > Definition and Measurement of Proteinuria > Proteinuria is described as urinary excretion of > more than 150 mg of > protein in a 24-hour period. Presence or absence of > proteinuria is > usually first detected by dipstick evaluation of > urine. A dipstick > reading is normally read as zero to 4+. This > corresponds to > concentrations of zero to more than 500mg/dL of > protein. A more accurate > quantitative result of protein is obtained with a > 24-hour urine > collection. In most situations, the results of the > dipstick will > correlate fairly well with the quantitative urine > collection. > > The dipstick method, however, is most sensitive to > albumin, where the > quantitative method detects all proteins. > > The dipstick may be negative when low > molecular-weight proteins, and > not albumin, are present in the urine. This can > occur in some tubular > diseases where the proximal tubule catabolism of > filtered protein is > impaired. > > It can also happen in diseases where there is > excessive production and > filtration of low-molecular-weight proteins, > exceeding the proximal > tubule's ability to catabolize filtered proteins. > > An important clinical example of this is multiple > myeloma, where the > urine might contain large amounts of protein > detected by quantitative > measurement, but test as negative or only trace > positive by urine > dipstick. (1) > > Laboratory evaluation of proteinuria first > quantifies the amount of > protein being excreted. Generally, if the amount is > found to be > 3 > gm/day, it is almost always of glomerular origin. > > Proteinuria < 3 gm/day is nondiagnostic. This could > represent a > pre-renal, tubular or glormerular origin. If the > origin is unclear, the > next step is to evaluate by urine protein > electrophoresis. If the > protein is found to be >70% albumin, the source is > glomerular. > > A tubular source will cause excretion of globulins > more than albumin. A > pre-renal source usually has a single globulin peak, > which represents > the protein with the highest plasma concentration. > (1) > > Microalbuminuria > Microalbuminuria is defined as daily urinary albumin > excretion of 30 - > 300 mg/day. Diseases such as diabetes and essential > hypertension can > manifest microalbuminuria. This level of albumin > excretion is above the > normal range, yet is undetectable by dipstick. > > Microalbuminuria is thought to be the earliest sign > of nephropathy in > diabetes mellitus, and is a good predictor of > cardiovascular risk in > diabetes and hypertension. > > Microalbuminuria can only be detected using > sensitive laboratory > techniques, and only when specifically requested. It > is recommended that > patients with diabetes mellitus undergo yearly > screening for > microalbuminuria. (1) > > Mechanisms of Proteinuria > Proteinuria can be classified according to four > major mechanisms: > > Functional proteinuria > Overproduction or prerenal proteinuria > Glomerular proteinuria > Tubular proteinuria > Functional proteinuria. > > Functional proteinuria describes a transient > increase in protein > excretion. This can sometimes occur without the > presence of renal > disease. Fever, emotional or physical stress, and > acute illness can > cause significant, but transient, increases in > urinary protein > excretion. > > Urinary protein excretion is increased two-to > three-fold after periods > of heavy exercise. > > The mechanism for this type of proteinuria most > likely relates to > changes in the glomerular pore size rather than > alterations in the > glomerular basement membrane. (1) > > Orthostatic proteinuria is another benign condition. > This refers to > abnormally elevated protein excretion in the upright > position, but > normal excretion in a recumbent position. This > condition is found in > 2-5% of adolescents, but rarely noted in persons 30 > years === message truncated === Messenger Show us what our next emoticon should look like. Join the fun. http://www.advision.webevents./emoticontest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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