Posted: 2/18/2008 7:34:16 AM EDT
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What can cause increased protein in your urine? During my annual physical they did a dip test. Results indicated 3+ Protein in my urine. I think last year the result were slightly elevated. |
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What Is Proteinuria? Proteinuria is a type of Nephrotoxicity. Proteinuria is an excess of protein in the blood. Protein is an important component in our blood, as it carries food, hormones, and many other things through our blood stream. Once the blood is cleansed of excess wastes, the proteins will continue to flow through the body, carrying out their important functions. Protein is not filtered out of the body, as the large protein molecules are too big to through the tiny kidneys. When there has been damage to the kidneys, depending on the cause, you may develop protein in your urine. Causes Of Proteinuria You may develop proteinuria as a result of: * Chemotherapy drugs such as: Streptozocin * Biologic therapies such as: Interleukin-2 * Certain diseases or conditions - o Multiple myeloma will cause you to have a special kind of protein in your urine, called the "M-protein", "myeloma protein", or Bence-Jones protein. These are all terms for the same kind of protein. If Protienuria is among your symptoms of kidney problems, your doctor or healthcare provider will monitor your urine proteins periodically - either monthly, or yearly, depending on the severity and activity of your disease. o Systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) - you may develop a "glomerulonephritis", or lupus nephritis, from your disease. o Diabetes - with diabetes, the protein that you will have in your urine is called albumin. If you have sustained long-term damage to your kidneys from poor blood sugar control, your kidneys may fail. o Long-standing high blood pressure (Hypertension) - long-standing hypertension may cause your kidney failure. o Infection - Inflammation in the kidneys (Nephritis) may cause protein in your urine The main thing I have heard of causing it is DIABETES! Are you diabetic? |
Neither. My BP was borderline prehypertensive a few years ago. I lost a few pounds and now it seems OK. Today it was low. 110/ 60. I have had one blood sugar result test low in the last 16 years of having physicals. No history of diabetes. My fasting blood sugar is usually good. I had a bad viral infection last week. I didn't eat much for two days. I did notice a pain in my lower back last week. I am probably still a bit dehydrated following last week. I don't drink much alcohol. I do drink a lot (3-4 cups) of coffee a day. I called my doc this morning, still waiting for a call back. |