General Information About Proteinuria
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the process by which kidney filters (glomeruli) responsible for filtering blood lose their structure or have widened pores, causing essential protein molecules to be excreted through urine.
Prolonged and uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, intrinsic inflammatory diseases of the kidney (Nephritis), and severe rheumatic diseases (Lupus) damage the kidney filters, initiating this leakage.
The most typical symptom is excessive foaming in the urine in the toilet bowl (persistent foam like soapy water). Additionally, because the protein (albumin) in the blood decreases, swelling (edema) occurs in the eyelids, hands, and feet.
Detecting protein leakage in the urine along with high blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy is the most critical indicator of Preeclampsia (Toxemia of Pregnancy), which threatens the lives of both the mother and the baby.
Following protein positivity found in a routine Urinalysis, the patient is asked to collect their urine for 24 hours. The amount of protein in this collected urine is measured in milligrams/grams to determine the degree of kidney damage.
Treatment is aimed at correcting the underlying cause (sugar or blood pressure) rather than just stopping the leak. In particular, ACE inhibitor blood pressure medications significantly reduce protein leakage by lowering intra-renal pressure and slow the progression to kidney failure.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
