What Should I Do If My 24-Hour Urine Protein Level Is High?

Update Date: 2024-05-22 Source: Network

24-Hour Urine Protein Quantification

24-hour urine protein quantification is primarily achieved by collecting all urine over a 24-hour period and then measuring the amount of protein in the body. This allows for the calculation of the total amount of urinary protein excreted within 24 hours. Typically, a high 24-hour urine protein quantity may indicate kidney problems, which should be taken seriously. The kidneys are metabolic organs in the human body, and kidney diseases can have significant impacts on overall health and may even lead to other diseases.

1. What to Do if 24-Hour Urine Protein Quantification is High?

A high 24-hour urine protein quantification indicates kidney disease. Treatment includes basic therapy and individualized treatment. Basic therapy involves oral administration of Bailing Capsule to protect the kidneys and the use of drugs such as Irbesartan or Benazepril to reduce urinary protein. For individualized treatment, renal biopsy is required to determine the specific pathological type of the kidney. Depending on the diagnosis, hormone or immunosuppressive agents may be prescribed. For example, in cases of interstitial nephritis, half-dose hormones may be used, and for membranous nephropathy, prednisone combined with Tacrolimus may be prescribed.

2. What Causes High 24-Hour Urine Protein Quantification?

Elevated 24-hour urine protein quantification is commonly seen in various primary glomerulonephritis or secondary kidney diseases, such as diabetic nephropathy, systemic lupus nephritis, and allergic purpura nephritis. In rare cases, it can also be due to positional proteinuria or Nutcracker Syndrome. Further treatment depends on the level of urinary protein. If the urinary protein quantity is below 1.0 grams, and creatinine levels are normal with no occult blood, drugs like Huangkui Capsule, Telmisartan, or Valsartan can be prescribed to reduce urinary protein. However, if the urinary protein quantity exceeds approximately 3.5 grams or is accompanied by increased blood or creatinine levels, renal biopsy may be necessary to determine the pathological condition, and hormone or immunosuppressive agents may be required.

3. Is High 24-Hour Urine Protein Quantification Serious?

If the 24-hour urine protein quantification exceeds 3.5 grams per day, it can be considered a significant amount of urinary protein. Generally, large amounts of urinary protein are seen in patients with nephrotic syndrome. The severity and etiology of the condition are closely related. Secondary causes such as diabetic nephropathy or primary causes like minimal change disease or membranous nephropathy can lead to nephrotic syndrome.