​Proteinuria​

Proteinuria is the presence of excess protein in the urine. Our kidneys have tiny filters which remove waste products from the blood. They also prevent some essential substances, such as protein, from being taken out of the blood. If the filters are damaged, protein from the blood leaks into the urine.

Normally, one should have less than 150 milligrams of protein in the urine per day. Having more than 150 milligrams per day is called proteinuria​​​

People with a small amount of proteinuria generally have no signs or symptoms. However, some patients have edema (swelling) in the face, legs, or abdomen if they lose large amounts of protein in their urine. ​
Proteinuria is the earliest sign of kidney disease. For an accurate diagnosis, you should consult your doctor working with the K​idney and Bladder​​ service line at Aga Khan University Hospital. ​​​

Proteinuria is diagnosed by analyzing the urine (called a urinalysis), often with a dipstick test. If two or more urinalyses show protein in the urine, the next step is to determine how much protein is in the urine. This can be measured from:

  • A single urine sample collected at any time (a common and convenient method).

  • Urine that has been collected over 24 hours (a more exact but somewhat inconvenient method)

If the urine has an excess of protein, further tests are performed to determine the levels of urea, creatinine and waste materials in the blood. At times, a kidney biopsy is recommended to ascertain the exact cause of proteinuria.​​

Treatment of proteinuria depends upon the underlying disease causing it. Some patients may need immunosuppressive medications to help prevent further damage to the kidneys.​​

The Aga Khan University Hospital offers various support services to help with managing or recovering from the disease or condition. These include but are not limited to nutrition, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, specialized clinics and some patient support groups. Your doctor or nurse will advise you accordingly.

The Aga Khan University Hospital offers financial assistance to those who are in need and fulfil the eligibility criteria. For further information, you can contact the Patient Welfare Department. You can find the contact number of the Patient Welfare Department in the 'Important Numbers' section on the website homepage.

The financial counselling staff is available during office hours, at the main PBSD (Patient Business Services Department), to answer your financial queries on treatments' costs and authorize admissions on partial deposit as per hospital policies allow. The financial counsellor in the emergency room is open 24/7. You can find the contact number of the Patient Business Services in the 'Important Numbers' section on the website homepage.​

Your doctor and or nurse will give you specific instructions about the prescribed medication. Please ensure that you take or use the prescribed medicine as advised. It can be dangerous to your health if you self-prescribe. Please inform the doctor or nurse beforehand if you have experienced any adverse reactions to any medications in the past. If you experience any symptoms of drug poisoning, overdose or severe reaction please contact the Pharmacy Service at The Aga Khan University Hospital immediately. You can find the contact number of the Pharmacy Services in the 'Important Numbers' section on the website homepage.


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​​​The information provided on our website is for educational purposes and not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should always seek the advice of your doctor or other healthcare professional provider. ​