What Does Excess Protein in the Kidney Mean?

Your body uses protein, found in your blood, to perform a variety of functions such as clot your blood, circulate fluid throughout your body and help you avoid infections. However, excess protein can indicate a problem.

Significance

• Proteinuria, also called urine albumin and albuminuria, can occur when there is excess protein in your urine. Although the excess protein is found in your urine, the problem occurs within your kidneys.

Function

• Normally, when blood enters your kidneys, the kidneys filter waste products and keep proteins. However, when your kidney filters, called glomeruli, are damaged, proteins can bypass your kidneys and enter your urine.

Meaning

• Proteinuria indicates chronic kidney disease, which means loss of kidney function or kidney damage.

Causes

• Excess protein in your urine is caused by high blood pressure, diabetes and diseases that inflame your kidneys, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Considerations

• There are no symptoms associated with excess protein, according to the American Kidney Fund. Thus, proteinuria has to be determined via a urine test.