Can Dehydration Cause High Protein In Urine?

Over 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates discovered a link between kidney disease and "bubbles on the surface of the urine." Scientists now know that this symptom is associated with protein in your urine, a condition called proteinuria. Proteinuria is usually an incidental finding, discovered on "dipstick" analysis of your urine during a physical examination or evaluation for another medical condition. A September 1989 review in "The Journal of the American Medical Association" reported that fewer than 1.5 percent of people with proteinuria have serious urinary tract disorders. Most cases are due to benign, correctable causes, such as dehydration.

Filtration

The filtering apparatus in your kidneys normally presents a barrier to the passage of significant amounts of protein into your urine. Proteins that are larger in size, such as albumin, are effectively barred from escaping your bloodstream, while smaller proteins that do spill into your urine are reabsorbed. However, your kidneys cannot prevent the escape of all proteins, so it is normal to have small amounts of protein in your urine. If you develop kidney disease, the filtering mechanism is damaged, and more protein "leaks" into your urine. Under certain conditions, healthy persons can also excrete unusually high amounts of protein.

Benign Proteinuria

Proteinuria resulting from benign, transient causes is called physiologic proteinuria. Intense physical activity, acute illness, fever, emotional stress and dehydration are common causes of physiologic proteinuria. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy describes a specific form of physiologic proteinuria, orthostatic or postural proteinuria, which occurs in adolescents and young adults and involves the loss of urinary protein only when they are in an upright position.

Evaluation

If dehydration or another benign cause of proteinuria is suspected, your doctor may ask you to submit another urine sample for reevaluation. This usually entails the use of a test strip, much like a home pregnancy test, to determine if your proteinuria has resolved. Persistent proteinuria or large amounts of protein in your urine may necessitate a 24-hour urine collection, blood tests and even X-ray or ultrasound studies.

Considerations

Proteinuria is usually the result of a benign, transient condition, such as dehydration, exercise or acute illness. Rehydration, rest and correction of other factors that are known to cause physiologic proteinuria should lead to resolution of the problem. If your proteinuria persists or if there are large amounts of protein in your urine, further testing is necessary. Follow up with your doctor until a cause for your proteinuria is determined; some forms of kidney disease are treatable if they are promptly addressed.