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- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Proteinuria
- Mayo Clinic: Secondary Hypertension
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What Causes High Protein in Kidneys?
A high protein content in the kidneys leads to proteinuria, which is an abnormal presence of protein in the urine. Blood passes through the kidneys filtering out any waste products while leaving essential compounds, like proteins. Usually, the majority of proteins are too large to pass through into the urine. However, damage to the kidneys can cause this to happen. Initially, there may not be symptoms of this disease; however, swelling of the feet, hands, abdomen and face can occur, which requires immediate medical attention. Several conditions can cause this.
People with diabetes can develop a high protein content in the kidneys leading to proteinuria. The high blood sugar levels in diabetics can overwork the kidneys, causing them to malfunction, explains the American Diabetes Association. According to Pedro Cortes and Carl Erik Mogensen in their book “The Diabetic Kidney,” people with Type 1 diabetes are more likely to develop proteinuria 1. They were also more likely to show signs of retinopathy, which is damage to the retina that can lead to blindness. Diabetics should carefully watch sugar intake levels to avoid damage to the kidneys.
- People with diabetes can develop a high protein content in the kidneys leading to proteinuria.
- According to Pedro Cortes and Carl Erik Mogensen in their book “The Diabetic Kidney,” people with Type 1 diabetes are more likely to develop proteinuria 1.
Symptoms of Bright's Disease
High protein amounts in the kidneys often accompany hypertension in pregnant women, according to the text “ABC of Hypertension.” During pregnancy, a woman will exhibit 300mg/l of protein every 24 hours. This type of secondary hypertension can cause kidney failure, notes MayoClinic.com. Similar to regular hypertension that only affects the blood vessels, secondary hypertension doesn’t have any distinct symptoms, although some may experience headaches.
- High protein amounts in the kidneys often accompany hypertension in pregnant women, according to the text “ABC of Hypertension.”
Kidney inflammation, called nephritis, may be indicative of an infection or an autoimmune disease such as lupus, according to KidsHealth 3. The initial symptom of this condition is high protein levels in the kidneys quantified in the urine. Swelling may also occur due to the kidney’s inability to move fluids out of the body. In advanced cases of nephritis, the high protein content can make the urine appear gel-like, according to Phyllis Balch in her book “Prescription for Herbal Healing. 4”
Symptoms of Bright's Disease
A List of Autoimmune Water Retention Diseases
Kidney Cysts & Diet
Side Effects of the Hamdy Diet
Hepatic Encephalopathy Low-Protein Diet
Sticky Urine & Diabetes
Kidney's Function Related to the Circulatory System of the Human Body
Is a Urine Protein Level of 234.0 High?
Complications of Untreated Type 2 Diabetes
What Are the Causes of a Swollen Kidney?
- “The Diabetic Kidney”; Pedro Cortes and Carl Erik Mogensen; 2006
- “ABC of Hypertension”; D. Gareth Beevers et al.; 2007
- KidsHealth: Kidney Diseases in Childhood
- “Prescription for Herbal Healing”; Phyllis A. Balch; 2002
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus. Protein in Urine. Reviewed October 2, 2019.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Nephrotic Syndrome in Adults. Updated February 2014.
- Gorriz JL, Martinez-castelao A. Proteinuria: detection and role in native renal disease progression. Transplant Rev (Orlando). 2012;26(1):3-13.
- Zeeuw DD, Remuzzi G, Parving H-H, et al. Proteinuria, a target for renoprotection in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy: Lessons from RENAAL. Kidney International. 2004;65(6):2309-2320. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00653.x.
Skyler White is an avid writer and anthropologist who has written for numerous publications. As a writing professional since 2005, White's areas of interests include lifestyle, business, medicine, forensics, animals and green living. She has a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from San Francisco State University and a Master of Science in forensic science from Pace University.