What does positive urine protein mean?

Positive urine protein is a routine urine test during an examination or physical examination. When some people get a test report and it says that urine protein is positive, they may not understand what it means. This may be caused by functional proteinuria or orthostatic proteinuria.

What does positive urine protein mean?

Positive urine protein means that the results of a routine urine test or a 24-hour urine protein quantitative test show “+”. There is always a certain amount of protein in the blood that is indispensable to human life activities. Some of the protein is filtered into the urine in the glomeruli of the kidneys, but is absorbed back into the blood in the renal tubules. Therefore, if the kidneys function normally, only a small amount of protein will appear in the urine. However, when there is an obstruction in the kidneys and ureters, a large amount of protein will leak out and become proteinuria. There is a trace amount of protein in the urine of normal people, which is qualitatively negative within the normal range and recorded as (-). When the protein content in urine is more than 0.15g/24h, it is called proteinuria, and routine urine tests may show positive results.

Clinical significance of positive urine protein

Positive, seen in various acute and chronic glomerulonephritis, acute pyelonephritis, multiple myeloma, after kidney transplantation, etc. In addition, positive results can also be seen in cases of renal tubular epithelial cell damage caused by poisoning by drugs, mercury, thorium, etc. A normal person excretes about 40-80 mg of urine protein per day, and no more than 150 mg at most. Within this range, it is classified as negative. If urine protein is positive, it often indicates kidney disease.

It is recommended that patients with positive urine protein undergo a 24-hour urine protein quantification. If it exceeds 0.15g, it is nephritis and the patient should seek medical attention in the nephrology department. Patients should not stay up late and should pay attention to rest; eat less spicy and high-protein foods and eat a low-salt diet.

However, a weak positive result is not a big problem. It may also be related to medications, heavy exercise, urinary tract inflammation, etc. Pay close attention and patients should be checked at least once a month.

High urine protein

1. Febrile proteinuria: Proteinuria will occur when diseases such as colds cause fever to exceed 38 degrees Celsius.

2. Orthostatic proteinuria: Young people will have proteinuria when their spine bends forward and compresses the blood vessels of the kidneys. If not treated, it will disappear automatically around the age of 30.

3. Congested kidney: Urine protein will appear when there is congestion in the renal vein due to heart failure, but the protein will disappear when the congestion disappears. Proteinuria Caused by Kidney Disease When protein is present in your urine every time you do a urine test, it is clear that you have kidney disease.

4. Nephritis: In acute or chronic nephritis, the amount of urine protein per day ranges from a small amount to tens of grams.

5. Nephrotic syndrome: A large amount of urine protein of more than three grams will appear in the daily urine. When symptoms are severe, protein leaking into the urine can reduce the protein concentration in the blood. In addition, it may be caused by diabetic nephropathy, amyloidosis, collagen disease, etc.

6. Nephrosclerosis: With nephrosclerosis caused by essential hypertension, the amount of urine protein will decrease, mostly below 300 mg.