Protein in Urine (Proteinuria): Overview, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment.

Overview
Proteinuria can be defined as the presence of protein in the urine. Individuals with protein in their urine in an abnormal amount could be a sign of diseases especially kidney disease.
Protein in the urine can be as a result of the body overproduction of protein or due to disease of the kidney; this is mostly discovered during urine test.

A healthy kidney will not allow a significant amount of protein to be filtered into the urine. However in disease condition the filtration power of the kidney may be compromised and resulting to allow protein to pass through it especially allowing albumin to leak into the blood from urine.

Causes of Proteinuria
Few conditions and situations can cause Proteinuria. Conditions that can cause a temporary rise in the levels of protein in urine, but don't necessarily indicate kidney damage, include:
Not in all cases suggest kidney disease, some other non-disease related factors can cause it.
These conditions are likely to elevate the level of protein in the urine.

·         Fever

·         Rigorous exercise

·         Dehydration

·         Extreme cold

·         Emotional stress

Disease with possible link to kidney disease that increase the protein urine level

·         Diabetes mellitus

·         Chronic kidney disease

·         High blood pressure (hypertension)

·         Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease)

·         Focal segmental glomerilosclerosis (FSGS)

·         Heart disease/Heart Failure

·         Lupus (autoimmune disease that affects body's immune system to attacks its own tissues and organs)

·         Malaria

·         Multiple myeloma

·         Sickle Cell Anemia

·         Some drugs (NSAID- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

·         Rheumatoid arthritis (disease causing inflammation of the joints)

·         Amyloidosis (buildup of abnormal proteins in your organs)

·         Endocarditis (an infection of the inner lining of the heart)

·         Sarcoidosis (collections of inflammatory cells in the body)

·         Pregnancy

·         Preeclampsia (high blood pressure and Proteinuria in pregnancy)

Treatment of Proteinuria

Protein in urine is not a disease without an underlying cause, so its treatment is dependent on the primary cause of the problem.
In mild Proteinuria no treatment is necessary as the situation will normalized with time.
However when the underlying factor is kidney disease or heart disease the primary cause of the ailment must be treated.
In cases related to diabetes and high blood pressure, these classes of drugs may be prescribed for treatment.

·         ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors)

·         ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers)

The disease must be well managed to avoid it progression to chronic kidney disease.