Why proteinuria in kidney disease

More tests are needed to determine the exact cause of proteinuria. These include blood tests to measure creatinine and urea nitrogen, waste materials filtered by the kidneys that are elevated in people with impaired kidney function. Some organizations and experts recommend routine protein screening for people at high risk for kidney damage. Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the condition. If nephritis is the cause, determining the reason for the kidney inflammation and treating accordingly is the first step.

Protein in your urine is called proteinuria or albuminuria. It is a sign that your kidneys are damaged. Protein is normally found in your blood. The main protein in your blood is called albumin.

Proteins have many important jobs in your body. For example, they help build your bones and muscles, prevent infection and control the amount of fluid in your blood.

Healthy kidneys remove extra fluid and waste from your blood and transform it into urine. Therefore, high-grade proteinuria is an independent mediator of progressive kidney damage. Glomerular lesions and their effects on the renal tubules appear to provide a critical link between proteinuria and tubulointerstitial injury, although several other mechanisms have also been involved.

Injury is transmitted to the interstitium favoring the self-destruction of nephrons and finally of the kidney structure. Abstract The presence of albuminuria or proteinuria constitutes a sign of kidney damage and, together with the estimation of glomerular filtration rate, is based on the evaluation of chronic kidney disease.

Publication types Review. It may be an early sign of kidney disease, but your doctor will check you again to make sure albuminuria is not caused by something else, like not drinking enough water. If your doctor suspects that you have kidney disease, the urine test for albumin will be repeated.

Three positive results over three months or more is a sign of kidney disease. You will also be given a simple blood test to estimate GFR. GFR stands for glomerular filtration rate. Your GFR number tells you how well your kidneys are working.

Imaging tests. An ultrasound or CT scan. This produces a picture of your kidneys and urinary tract. It can show whether your kidneys have kidney stones or other problems.