Blood Drug Testing

Protein in the urine... Is this a nephrotic syndrome?

I have trace to 3+ albumin in the urine! The latest lab tests is 3+! I'm bothered with this result so I went to my Nephrologist and have checkup and some laboratoty works. My GFR, blood Crea, abd BUN were normal. Also, my liver and blood chemistry were normal. I was diagnosed to have 3.3mm kidney stone, high cholesterol and hypertension so I'm currently taking meds for that. My latest test say my BP and cholesterol went down and no edema BUT the protein in my urine still at 3+ ! I wonder what causes protein in my urine? Is this a Nephrotic Syndrome? It's almost 4 years since I knew I had protein in the urine but all blood and kidney tests were ok.

Public Comments

1. Proteinuria describes a condition in which urine contains an abnormal amount of protein... Proteins are the building blocks for all body parts, including muscles, bones, hair, and nails... Proteins in your blood also perform a number of important functions... They protect you from infection, help your blood clot, and keep the right amount of fluid circulating throughout your body... As blood passes through healthy kidneys, they filter the waste products out and leave in the things the body needs, like proteins. Most proteins are too big to pass through the kidneys' filters into the urine unless the kidneys are damaged... The main protein that is most likely to appear in urine is albumin... Proteins from the blood can escape into the urine when the filters of the kidney, called glomeruli, are damaged... Sometimes the term albuminuria is used when a urine test detects albumin specifically... Albumin's function in the body includes retention of fluid in the blood... It acts like a sponge, soaking up fluid from body tissues... Inflammation in the glomeruli is called glomerulonephritis, or simply nephritis... Many diseases can cause this inflammation, which leads to proteinuria... Additional processes that can damage the glomeruli and cause proteinuria include diabetes, hypertension, and other forms of kidney diseases... Research shows that the level and type of proteinuria (whether the urinary proteins are albumin only or include other proteins) strongly determine the extent of damage and whether you are at risk for developing progressive kidney failure... Here are the signs of proteinuria... Large amounts of protein in your urine may cause it to look foamy in the toilet... Also, because the protein has left your body, your blood can no longer soak up enough fluid and you may notice swelling in your hands, feet, abdomen, or face... These are signs of very large protein loss... More commonly, you may have proteinuria without noticing any signs or symptoms... Testing is the only way to find out how much protein you have in your urine... Here are some ways in treating proteinuria... If you have diabetes, hypertension, or both, the first goal of treatment will be to control your blood glucose and blood pressure... If you have diabetes, you should test your blood glucose often, follow a healthy eating plan, take your medicines, and get plenty of exercise... If you have diabetes and high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe a medicine from a class of drugs called ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors or a similar class called ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers)... These drugs have been found to protect kidney function even more than other drugs that provide the same level of blood pressure control... The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes keep their blood pressure below 130/80... People who have high blood pressure and proteinuria but not diabetes also benefit from taking an ACE inhibitor or ARB... Their blood pressure should be maintained below 130/80... To maintain this target, you may need to take a combination of two or more blood pressure medicines... Your doctor may also prescribe a diuretic in addition to your ACE inhibitor or ARB... Diuretics are also called "water pills" because they help you urinate and get rid of excess fluid in your body... n addition to blood glucose and blood pressure control, the National Kidney Foundation recommends restricting dietary salt and protein... Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian to help you develop and follow a healthy eating plan ;)... ;)I hope I able to help you... Good Luck...
2. It's not nephrotic syndrome. That is when a person has huge amounts of protein in their urine and is much more serious. The nephrologist is the best person to answer your question, since there are many causes for having protein in your urine. One cause is hypertension, so ask if it could be that. Also it is something that can develop in people with diabetes. Or it may be related to the kidney stone. I presume they are planning to remove the stone - they will probably see what happens after that.