Should I be worried if I have protein in my urine?

In one of our latest articles here below, distinguished London-based consultant nephrologist, Professor Jeremy Levy, reveals what protein in the urine usually indicates, and whether or not the presence of protein in the urine may be a warning sign of kidney failure or kidney disease.

What does protein in the urine usually indicate?

Protein in the urine is definitely abnormal. Most people do not have protein in their urine. Normally, we do not pee out any protein in the urine, as it stays in our body. So, if you have got protein in the urine, it tells us that there is a problem in the kidney, and the kidney is leaking protein into the urine.

This finding does not tell or show us what the cause of the problem could be, but it tells us that there is something that needs to be thought about in the kidney. The tests that we might need to do depend on the quantity of protein in the urine.

Might it signal kidney failure or kidney disease?

It is usually a sign of kidney disease, but is not a sign of kidney failure. Many different kidney diseases can lead to the kidney leaking protein, and there certainly must be at least some kidney damage for them to leak protein.

Despite the presence of protein in the urine, the kidneys continue to work very well in the way that they clean the blood, but the protein leak tells us that there is something going on. There are also people who have diseases such as high blood pressure and/or diabetes, where small amounts of protein in the urine indicate the very earliest stages of kidney damage.

How is protein in the urine detected?

It is normally detected by a very simple dip-stick test on the urine. This test will tell us if there is some protein present, but to make sure we know exactly how much, the urine sample is usually sent off to get an accurate measurement of the exact amount of protein.

Is it potentially life-threatening?

Protein in the urine is not life-threatening at all, but it is a sign that the kidneys need to be investigated. It is very important that we find the cause of the protein leakage. Initially this is done through a series of blood tests to see if we can establish if the kidneys are working normally or not. The blood test will often tell us what’s going on.

Very often, a simple scan such as an ultrasound scan is required in order to see what the kidneys look like in that given moment in time. In some people, it is also important and necessary to do a kidney biopsy.

How is it treated?

The treatment depends entirely on the cause. In general, we then need to treat the underlying cause. There are also some general treatments that work very well for almost everyone. ACE inhibitor tablets are excellent at reducing the protein in the urine and protecting the kidney, and there are also similar other medicines. Everyone needs to be taking these tablets if protein is found in their urine. On top of this, there may be more treatments needed, all of which would be medicines. 

Contact esteemed London-based consultant nephrologist, Professor Jeremy Levy, today via his Top Doctors profile to make an appointment with him if you would like to get tested for protein in the urine.