Proteinuria

Proteinuria is an abnormal amount of protein in urine. It often reflects impaired kidney filtration, but can also occur temporarily or arise from other causes.

Glomerular filtration barrier: A layered kidney structure that filters blood while normally retaining cells and most proteins. Damage to this barrier lets blood proteins pass into urine.
Urinalysis: A group of tests that examine urine’s physical, chemical, and microscopic properties. A dipstick urinalysis often provides the first indication of proteinuria.
Transient proteinuria: Temporary proteinuria that resolves after a short-lived trigger or underlying condition passes. Fever, strenuous exercise, and acute illness can produce this reversible pattern.
Hematuria: The presence of blood in urine, visible to the eye or detected by testing. It is a distinct urine abnormality that may accompany proteinuria in glomerular disease.
Albuminuria: An abnormal amount of albumin in urine, commonly measured as a marker of kidney damage. Albumin is the main protein measured in many evaluations of proteinuria.
Kidney biopsy: A procedure that removes a small kidney tissue sample for microscopic examination. Biopsy can identify the disease causing persistent or substantial protein loss.
Diabetic kidney disease: Kidney damage caused by diabetes, often marked by persistent albuminuria and declining filtration. It is a common cause of sustained albuminuria.
Pyuria: An increased number of white blood cells in urine, often associated with urinary inflammation or infection. Unlike proteinuria, it signals white blood cells rather than excess urinary protein.
Tubular proteinuria: Urinary protein elevation caused by kidney tubules failing to reabsorb filtered low-molecular-weight proteins. It shows that proteinuria can arise beyond the glomerular filter.
Chronic kidney disease: A lasting abnormality of kidney structure or function with health implications. Persistent albuminuria can establish kidney damage even when filtration remains preserved.

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