HEMATURIA AND PROTEINURIA

Assessing, Managing And Treating Underlying Causes

What Is Hematuria?

Hematuria means that red blood cells are in the urine. Urine does not normally contain red blood cells. The filters in the kidney prevent blood from entering the urine.  When you have hematuria, the filters in the kidneys or other parts of the urinary tract are allowing blood to leak into the urine. 

There are two types of hematuria:

Our kidney specialists at Richmond Nephrology Associates will work with you to treat the underlying cause of your hematuria.

  • Microscopic hematuria means that the blood can only be seen with a microscope. 

  • Gross hematuria means the urine appears red or the color of tea or cola to the naked eye.

What Causes Hematuria?

Hematuria is common and can have many different causes, including:

  • Inflammation of the kidney, urethra, bladder or prostate in men

  • Abnormal structures in the urinary tract

  • Inherited diseases, like polycystic kidney disease, sickle cell disease or hemophilia

  • Mineral imbalances in the urine

  • Idiopathic hematuria can also occur when no cause of hematuria may be found.

How Is Hematuria Treated?

If your hematuria is caused by an infection, like a urinary tract infection (UTI), hematuria is treated with antibiotics. Your healthcare provider will test your urine after treating you with antibiotics to ensure that your infection has cleared. The goal of our kidney specialists at Richmond Nephrology Associates is to find the cause of blood in your urine and treat it. If no serious condition is causing hematuria, no treatment is needed.

People with proteinuria have unusually high amounts of protein in their urine. The condition is often a sign of kidney disease. Your kidneys are filters that don’t usually let a lot of protein pass through. When kidney disease damages them, proteins such as albumin may leak from your blood into your pee. You can also have proteinuria when your body makes too much protein. Kidney disease often has no early symptoms. Protein in your pee might be one of the first signs. Your doctor may spot proteinuria on a urine test during a routine physical.

If your proteinuria indicates kidney disease, our kidney specialists at Richmond Nephrology Associates will work with you to assess and manage your disease.

Protein in Urine Symptoms

Most people who have proteinuria won’t notice any signs, especially in early or mild cases. Over time, as it gets worse, you might have symptoms including:

  • Foamy or bubbly urine

  • Swelling (edema) in your hands, feet, belly and face

  • Urinating more often

  • Shortness of breath

  • Fatigue

  • Loss of appetite

  • Upset stomach and vomiting

  • Muscle cramps at night

Protein in Urine Risk Factors

Things that might make you more likely to have protein in your urine include:

  • Obesity

  • Age over 65

  • A family history of kidney disease

  • African American, Native American, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander descent

  • Some people get more protein into their urine while standing than while lying down. This condition is called orthostatic proteinuria.

Protein in Urine Causes

Some common things can cause proteinuria. These include:

  • Dehydration

  • Inflammation

  • Low blood pressure

  • Fever

  • Intense activity

  • High stress

  • Taking aspirin every day

  • Very low temperatures

  • Conditions that damage your kidneys can also make you have too much protein in your urine. The two most common are diabetes and high blood pressure.

Other serious conditions that can cause proteinuria include:

  • Immune disorders such as lupus

  • A blood cancer called multiple myeloma

  • Preeclampsia, which affects pregnant women

  • A buildup of protein in your organs (amyloidosis)

  • Cardiovascular disease

  • Intravascular hemolysis, a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed

  • Kidney cancer

  • Heart failure

REQUEST YOUR APPOINTMENT

With Richmond Nephrology Associates

MEET YOUR DOCTORS services