Your doctor may find out that you have high levels of protein in your blood or your urine when running blood and urine tests. Eating a lot of protein does not cause high protein levels in the blood or the urine. If the cause is unexplained, your doctor will usually recommend more tests, since high protein levels can indicate serious health conditions.
High Blood Protein
During a routine blood test, or if you have potentially serious symptoms that cause you to seek a doctor's care, your physician may find that you have a high protein level in your blood. This can indicate inflammation or infection somewhere in your body or may be related to problems with your blood marrow. Some serious conditions that might cause high blood protein include HIV and multiple myeloma. Symptoms that might warrant testing for high blood protein include severe fatigue, unexplained weight loss or a loss of appetite. If your doctor finds that your levels are higher than normal, he will order more tests to determine the cause.
Protein in the Urine
During a routine office visit, you may be asked to provide a urine sample. One of the things that your doctor is checking for is the amount of protein in your urine. Your kidneys normally keep your urine free of protein, but if there is protein in your urine, it could indicate a kidney problem. Other causes for protein in your urine include dehydration and a urinary tract infection. Some medications, including certain antibiotics, may also interfere with the results of the test.
Kidney Disease
Kidney disease is a condition that causes the kidneys to be unable to perform their basic functions, such as filtering protein out of the urine. If your urinalysis comes back with high levels of protein, your doctor may recommend that you have further testing to rule out or diagnose kidney disease. Left untreated, kidney problems can cause high blood pressure, anemia and weak bones. Usually, kidney disease does not cause symptoms until it is quite progressed. At that point, symptoms include fatigue, trouble concentrating, insomnia, swollen feet, dry skin and frequent urination.
Excess Protein During Pregnancy
Some women develop kidney problems during pregnancy. High protein levels in your urine coupled with high blood pressure during pregnancy may indicate pre-eclampsia. Other symptoms of pre-eclampsia include facial swelling and high glucose levels in the urine. Since pre-eclampsia can be serious for both you and your baby, you may be put on bed rest or need to take medication for the duration of your pregnancy. High protein levels during pregnancy can also indicate a urinary tract infection, which should be treated with antibiotics.
