What does it mean to have proteinuria in urine?
Proteinuria is increased levels of protein in the urine. This condition can be a sign of kidney damage. Proteins – which help build muscle and bone, regulate the amount of fluid in blood, combat infection and repair tissue – should remain in the blood. If proteins enter the urine they ultimately leave the body, which isn’t healthy.
Can a proteinuria test be performed at a reference laboratory?
Once prerenal and postrenal causes of proteinuria have been ruled out, a UPC ratio can be performed to quantify the degree of renal proteinuria to determine its clinical significance. The UPC ratio is a quantitative measure of all urine proteins. This test can be performed at a reference laboratory or in-house on the IDEXX
Where does proteinuria take place in the body?
Glomeruli pass these substances, but not larger proteins and blood cells, into the urine. If smaller proteins sneak through the glomeruli, tubules (long, thin, hollow tubes in the kidneys) recapture those proteins and keep them in the body.
What kind of medicine can you take for proteinuria?
The types of medicine that can help with blood pressure and proteinuria are called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
How to test for protein in your urine?
Start to urinate into the toilet. Move the collection container under your urine stream. Collect at least an ounce or two of urine into the container, which should have markings to indicate the amounts. Finish urinating into the toilet. Return the sample container as instructed by your health care provider.
How does protein get into urine from the kidneys?
Protein gets into the urine if the kidneys aren’t working properly. Normally, glomeruli, which are tiny loops of capillaries (blood vessels) in the kidneys, filter waste products and excess water from the blood. Glomeruli pass these substances, but not larger proteins and blood cells, into the urine.
What happens if you have too much protein in your urine?
If too much of any substance is in the urine, the chemical tip changes color. The remainder of the urine is then examined under a microscope. Doctors look for substances that don’t belong in urine. These substances include red and white blood cells, bacteria and crystals that can grow and develop into kidney stones.