Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment for proteinuria

by Dr. Isabella Graham Jr. Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Management and Treatment
If kidney disease is confirmed, a treatment plan might include medication, diet changes, weight loss and exercise. Diabetes and hypertension patients with proteinuria might need blood pressure medication, and those with diabetes will have to control their blood sugar.
Jan 15, 2019

Which medications are used for the treatment of proteinuria?

  • Immune disorders like lupus and Goodpasture’s syndrome
  • Acute inflammation of the kidney ( glomerulonephritis)
  • Cancer of plasma cells ( multiple myeloma)
  • Intravascular hemolysis, which is the destruction of red blood cells and release of hemoglobin in the bloodstream
  • Cardiovascular disease

More items...

Does proteinuria always need to be treated?

● Proteinuria should always be evaluated by a clinician. ● Transient and orthostatic proteinuria do not cause long-lasting health problems and do not usually need to be treated. ● Some people with persistent proteinuria have kidney problems that need to be treated.

Is it possible to cure proteinuria?

Treatment depends on the underlying condition that caused proteinuria. Each condition requires different treatments. If kidney disease is confirmed, a treatment plan might include medication, diet changes, weight loss and exercise.

How do you treat proteinuria?

  • Latest proteinuria treatment study: Statins reduce proteinuria-related death in CKD patients. A new study has found that statins help reduce proteinuria-related deaths in chronic kidney disease patients.
  • Reduce proteinuria naturally with home remedies. ...
  • Proteinuria treatment options for healthy kidneys. ...

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Can proteinuria be treated?

Proteinuria can be temporary, so some people with proteinuria won't require treatment. However, proteinuria often means that your kidneys aren't properly filtering blood. Therefore, the goal of treatment is to manage any underlying conditions you may have.

What medications treat proteinuria?

Proteinuria MedicationACE Inhibitors.Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists (ARBs)Diuretics, Loop.Diuretics, Thiazide.Aldosterone Antagonists, Selective.Calcium Channel Antagonists.

How do you get rid of proteinuria?

Possible treatment includes:Changes to your diet. If high levels of protein are caused by kidney disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, your doctor will give you specific diet changes.Weight loss. ... Blood pressure medication. ... Diabetes medication. ... Dialysis.

How do you treat proteinuria naturally?

Here are some natural home remedies that can aid in treating proteinuria:Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, grains, and legumes.Lean meats are better than red meat, as the latter is harder to break down.Consume more fish.Restrict salt intake.Drink plenty of water and avoid soda.Exercise regularly.More items...•

How long does it take to treat proteinuria?

A 50% reduction in proteinuria at 6 mo was associated with a 72% reduction in risk for ESRD at 5 yrs (4). This was the first analysis to demonstrate that changes in low levels of proteinuria predict ESRD in patients with nondiabetic renal disease (4). Figure 2. Six-month change in proteinuria predicts risk for ESRD.

Is protein in urine always serious?

Protein in the urine is not usually obvious, but can be detected by a simple dip- stick test, or sometimes by more sensitive lab tests. The presence of protein in the urine can act as a warning signal that not all is well with the kidneys. Usually there are no symptoms.

How long can you live with proteinuria?

For example, the life expectancies of 40-year-old men and women with no proteinuria were 15.2 and 17.4 years longer, respectively, than those with heavy proteinuria. Proteinuria-free men and women also outlived those with mild proteinuria by 8.2 years and 10.5 years, respectively.

What foods to avoid if you have proteinuria?

Fiber and fresh vegetables help to maintain regular bowel habits, and may prevent certain cancers. However, you should avoid foods that are high in potassium and magnesium, if you are have been diagnosed with Proteinuria. Foods that are high in potassium include most fresh fruits and vegetables.

Can proteinuria cause kidney failure?

Abstract. The possibility that proteinuria may accelerate kidney disease progression to end-stage renal failure has received support from the results of increasing numbers of experimental and clinical studies.

What is proteinuria in urine?

What is proteinuria? Proteinuria, also called albuminuria, is elevated protein in the urine. It is not a disease in and of itself but a symptom of certain conditions affecting the kidneys.

What happens if you have a protein in your urine?

Other proteins can also leak into the urine. The level and type of protein reveals the degree of the damage, as well as the risk for developing kidney failure. If the protein levels are only minimally elevated, the condition is called microalbuminuria and signals minimal damage.

What is it called when the glomeruli are damaged?

When the glomeruli are damaged the condition is called nephritis or glomerulonephritis. Other conditions can lead to nephritis, including hypertension, heart disease and diabetes, as well as other types of kidney disease. Albumin is the protein most likely to appear in the urine, which is why proteinuria is sometimes called albuminuria.

What is the first step in treating kidney inflammation?

Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the condition. If nephritis is the cause, determining the reason for the kidney inflammation and treating accordingly is the first step. If hypertension or diabetes is the cause, the first goal is to control high blood pressure or blood sugar, respectively.

What tests are done to check for kidney damage?

These include blood tests to measure creatinine and urea nitrogen, waste materials filtered by the kidneys that are elevated in people with impaired kidney function. Some organizations and experts recommend routine protein screening for people at high risk for kidney damage.

What drugs can I take for proteinuria?

DRUGS THAT TREAT PROTEINURIA. Most of the medications that we use to treat proteinuria are actually blood pressure medications, although not all blood pressure medications will treat proteinuria. These medications include the commonly used ACE inhibitors (eg. lisinopril, enalapril, etc), and ARBs (eg. losartan, irbesartan, etc).

What blood pressure reducing drugs are good for proteinuria?

Another class of blood pressure reducing drugs that could have a similar efficacy in treating proteinuria are called non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers.

Does salt intake cause proteinuria?

A NOTE ABOUT SALT INTAKE. For reasons beyond the scope of this blog, I do want to emphasize that high salt intake makes proteinuria worse. It also blunts the protective effects of ACE inhibitors or ARBs. Ipso facto, it makes sense to consume a low salt diet to further minimize your proteinuria.

Does protein restriction affect renal function?

Even though it makes intuitive sense, and even though excess protein in the urine is directly associated with hyperfiltration, at this time the effect of protein restriction (especially when it is done in combination with ACE inhibitors or ARBs) on renal function is uncertain.

Can you take ACE inhibitors with proteinuria?

Some studies have tried to answer this question, and it appears that as long as someone is not experiencing side effects or low blood pressure as a result, it may be beneficial for people with proteinuria to take medications like ACE inhibitors, even if they don't have high blood pressure.

What does protein in the urine mean?

A small amount of protein in your urine is normal, but too much can be a sign of kidney disease.

Protein and kidney disease

How much protein do we need to eat to stay healthy? This answer depends on your stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Learn more on how to control your protein intake on Kidney Kitchen.

What causes protein in the urine?

Healthy kidneys remove extra fluid and waste from your blood and transform it into urine. Healthy kidneys do not remove proteins and other important nutrients, which pass through and return to your blood. But when your kidneys are damaged, they may let this protein leak into your urine. This causes high levels of protein in your urine.

Causes of long-lasting protein in the urine

Health problems that may cause long-lasting high levels of protein in the urine include:

Causes of short-term protein in the urine

Health problems that may cause a short-term high level of protein in the urine include:

What are the symptoms of protein in the urine?

When your kidneys have only mild damage and you have only small levels of protein in your urine, you will not notice any symptoms.

How will I know if I have protein in my urine?

The only way to know if you have protein in your urine is to have a urine test. The test will measure the levels of protein in your urine.

What is proteinuria treatment?

Proteinuria (protein in urine) treatment with statins and home remedies to stop chronic kidney disease.

What to do if you have proteinuria?

If you have a confirmed proteinuria diagnosis, your doctor will send you to a kidney specialist who can determine the mode of treatment, which may include medication, changes in diet, and lifestyle changes, such as losing weight.

What does it mean when you have protein in your urine?

Proteinuria is a condition in which urine contains a lot of protein that is normally found there only in very small amounts, as your kidneys are responsible for filtering urine and keeping the protein in the body. Therefore, when protein is found in high amounts in the urine, it can signal a kidney problem such as the kidney filters being damaged, ...

Why is protein in urine so high?

There are numerous reasons for high levels of protein in the urine, including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Protein found in the urine can either be a symptom of an existing kidney condition or a warning sign of an impending kidney problem, so treatment early on can really help your kidneys out. Here are some natural home remedies that can ...

What is the best medicine for proteinuria?

Some common medications prescribed for proteinuria are ACE inhibitors and ARBs. As mentioned, it’s important to control health issues that could contribute to proteinuria, like high blood pressure and high glucose.

Is proteinuria a disease?

Proteinuria isn’t a disease. It’s a symptom or precursor of one. Treating proteinuria actually means treating its cause, whether that be controlling diabetes or hypertension, or treating any underlying kidney problems. Some common medications prescribed for proteinuria are ACE inhibitors and ARBs.

Do statins help with proteinuria?

A new study has found that statins help reduce proteinuria-related deaths in chronic kidney disease patients. The findings come from the researchers at the Southern Medical University of China who pooled data from 23 randomized controlled trials, which included 39,419 participants. The causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the meta-analysis were diabetes, hypertension, glomerulonephritis, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, idiopathic membranous nephropathy, and metabolic syndrome. Eight different statins were studied.

What is the follow up for proteinuria?

Monitoring of the following is required: Proteinuria. Presence or absence of other indicators of renal disease.

What is the degree of proteinuria?

The degree of proteinuria depends on the integrity (charge and size selectivity) of the glomerular capillary wall (GCW) and the intraglomerular pressure. Intraglomerular pressure is controlled by the afferent arteriole, which transmits systemic blood pressure to the glomerulus, and the efferent arteriole.

What are the symptoms of proteinuria?

Patients may require regular follow-up care by a family physician, general internal medicine specialist, or nephrologist, depending on the cause and setting of proteinuria. Monitoring of the following is required: 1 Proteinuria 2 Presence or absence of other indicators of renal disease 3 Complications of nephrotic syndrome 4 Treatment effectiveness 5 Adverse effects

Why should a normal patient with proteinuria be given ACE inhibitors?

Normotensive patients with proteinuria also should be given ACE inhibitors, because low doses usually are well tolerated and do not usually cause symptomatic hypotension.

What is nonspecific treatment?

Nonspecific treatment - Treatment that is applicable irrespective of the underlying cause, assuming the patient has no contraindications to the therapy. Specific treatment - Treatment that depends on the underlying renal or nonrenal cause and, in particular, whether or not the injury is immune mediated. Referral to a nephrologist is indicated ...

Is proteinuria hypercoagulable?

Anticoagulants. Patients with proteinuria tend to be hypercoagulable due to urinary losses of coagulation inhibitors, such as antithrombin III and protein S and C. The risk of thrombosis appears to be highest in patients with membranous glomerulonephritis.

Does vitamin D help with proteinuria?

Vitamin D may play a role in down-regulating prorenin gene expression and thereby enhancing renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade. A randomized controlled trial showed a reduction in proteinuria of around 20% in diabetic patients with paricalcitol. [ 48] .

What is proteinuria in the body?

Proteinuria is leakage of protein from the blood into the urine.

What causes proteinuria in urine?

Protein in the urine can be a marker of almost any type of kidney disease, so tests are always needed if the cause of proteinuria is to be confirmed. These are the most common (click on a disease for more information):- 1 High blood pressure 2 Urinary Infections 3 Reflux nephropathy 4 Diabetes 5 Glomerulonephritis 6 Minimal change nephropathy

What are the problems with protein in urine?

There are some problems which are common in all types of kidney disease with protein in the urine:-. High blood pressure - Kidney disease commonly causes high blood pressure. This increases the risk of further kidney disease, and also the risk of heart attack and stroke. Drugs may be needed to control the blood pressure.

Why is protein important?

Protein is an important part of diet, and is contained in most types of food. Proteins have many functions, for example antibodies which are formed to protect against infection are proteins as are factors which help to manage clotting in our blood stream. Therefore protein is an important part of the plasma (watery part) of the blood, ...

How to treat water retention?

Water retention can be treated by reducing the amount of salt and water taken in your diet each day. Some cases also require drugs to make the kidneys produce more urine. High blood pressure can be treated by reducing salt in your diet, and often with drugs to take each day.

Can kidney disease be treated with drugs?

The underlying kidney disease may be treatable with drugs. The type of treatment depends on the cause. Information is contained in the sections on each individual disease (see above for the types of kidney diseases). Water retention can be treated by reducing the amount of salt and water taken in your diet each day.

Can proteinuria cause kidney failure?

Many people with proteinuria turn out to have minor kidney disease with no problems in the long term, but some kidney disease can progress to kidney failure. Complications depend on the exact cause of proteinuria in each case, so read the information on the condition you have.

What are the three types of proteinuria?

The third type, however, requires a more comprehensive medical examination to determine the underlying cause. The three types are: Transient proteinuria. This is when a urine test reveals elevated protein on one reading, but the level diminishes on its own and ultimately returns to normal with subsequent readings.

What is the procedure to get rid of protein in urine?

Get a kidney biopsy. In some cases, a kidney biopsy is also required as a further investigation to determine the cause of the protein in your urine. This is rarer; however, it may be needed if your doctor cannot otherwise determine the cause.

Why is my urine protein elevated?

As previously mentioned, if you are currently ill with a fever, exercising more than usual, or suffering from other acute stressors in your life, the protein levels in your urine may be elevated transiently as a result of this stress.

Why do we need repeat urine tests?

Request repeat urine tests. It is key to obtain repeat urine tests. This is because it is important to obtain a series of measurements of the protein in your urine, to see how it is progressing and whether or not it is improving on its own.

Why is protein in urine not a diagnosis?

This is because protein in the urine is not a diagnosis in itself; rather, it is a symptom indicating that something else is going on. It is only in the diagnosing and treating of that "something else" that the elevated protein level itself can be best addressed and dealt with.

Does proteinuria require treatment?

It is uncommon, and more likely to be present in adolescents; if present, it does not require treatment, and it almost always resolves itself by adulthood. Persistent proteinuria. This is when the protein levels in your urine remain elevated with repeat testing.

Is protein in urine normal?

Protein in the urine is never a normal thing (when the levels are above 150 mg per day, which is when your doctor will tell you that you have abnormal levels of protein in your urine).

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What Is Proteinuria?

Symptoms

Self-treatment: Self- care steps that may be helpful in some less- serious cases:
  • Try losing extra weight
  • Exercise regularly
  • Stop smoking
See a doctor if you notice:
  • Foamy, frothy or bubbly- looking urine
  • Needing to urinate more often
  • Hiccups
  • Fatigue (feeling tired)
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Dry, itchy skin

See a doctor immediately if you notice:
  • Swelling in your hands, feet, abdomen or face
  • Shortness of breath

Diagnosis

Treatment

  • Proteinuria, also called albuminuria, is elevated protein in the urine. It is not a disease in and of itself but a symptom of certain conditions affecting the kidneys. Typically, too much protein in the urine means that the kidneys’ filters — the glomeruli — are not working properly and are allowing too much protein to escape in the urine. When the glomeruli are damaged the condition is calle…
See more on hopkinsmedicine.org

When to Call For Help

  1. Foamy urine
  2. Swelling of the hands, feet, face and/or abdomen
See more on hopkinsmedicine.org

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