How to self-test proteinuria

Many people want to test themselves at home to see if they have proteinuria. In fact, no matter which self-testing method is used, there will be some errors, and even misdiagnosis may occur, which will delay the development of their disease. Therefore, the best way is to go to the hospital in time to take the correct examination method, so that you can know the severity of your proteinuria and avoid misdiagnosis.

A positive urine protein test result is obtained through a urine protein qualitative test. Various types of kidney disease may result in positive urine protein. When glomeruli and renal tubules are affected, such as nephritis at various stages, nephropathy, and hypertension with renal artery sclerosis, urine protein may be positive.

Various bacterial infections, such as pyelonephritis, renal tuberculosis, sepsis, etc., may also cause positive urine protein; non-infectious diseases, such as kidney stones, polycystic kidney disease, renal amyloid degeneration, as well as shock, severe muscle injury, fever, jaundice, hyperthyroidism, hemolytic anemia and leukemia, may also cause positive urine protein.

Urine protein testing can not only determine whether the kidneys are damaged, but also help kidney patients understand the extent of kidney disease through in-depth clinical urine protein quantitative testing.

1. Mild proteinuria (less than 0.5g/24h): mainly seen in inactive renal diseases, pyelonephritis, etc.

2. Moderate proteinuria (0.5-4g/24h): seen in nephritis, multiple myeloma, diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive nephropathy, nephrosclerosis, renal tumors, etc.

3. Severe proteinuria (greater than 4g/24h): seen in acute or chronic glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, lupus nephritis, latent nephritis, etc.

(1) The normal reference value for 24-hour urine protein quantification is 10 to 150 mg. If it is between 150 and 500 mg, it is microalbuminuria, and >500 mg is clinical proteinuria. Microalbuminuria indicates the early stage of diabetic nephropathy, and long-term blood sugar control is required, which is of certain significance in reversing or delaying the occurrence and development of nephropathy and retinopathy.

(2) The normal reference value of urinary albumin excretion rate (uAE) is <15 μg/min. In the early stages of diabetic nephropathy, the glomerular basement membrane is slightly damaged, so only a small amount of albumin leaks out. The uAE of early diabetic nephropathy is 15-200 micrograms/minute, and that of clinical diabetic nephropathy is >200 micrograms/minute.

Experts have reported that almost 100% of people with diabetic nephropathy and significant proteinuria have diabetic retinopathy. When the uAE of a diabetic patient is 30 micrograms/minute, it may be a critical moment for the prevention and treatment of diabetic microvascular complications. After strict control of blood sugar, urinary albumin in early diabetic nephropathy can be reversed or partially reversed. Currently, the commonly used method for determining trace urine protein is radioimmunoassay.