Increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman: the main causes, consequences, what to do

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Elevated protein in the urine is often diagnosed during pregnancy. A slight increase in indicators is the norm for expectant mothers, but you need to monitor the results of the tests in order to identify and start treating certain pathologies that cause such a symptom in time. The following are the causes and consequences of an increase in protein in the urine of a pregnant woman. This can be provoked both by the physiological characteristics of the woman’s condition, and by various kinds of pathologies that are dangerous for the course of pregnancy. Fortunately, most complications can be avoided if the disease is detected early.

Urine protein norm

Almost all relatively he althy people have a small amount of protein in their urine. Proteinuria is usually caused by physical fatigue, stress, or eating too much protein. However, a slight increaseindicator is considered normal and does not require treatment. In absolutely he althy patients, protein in the urine is not detected at all. In pregnant women, increased protein is allowed, but the increase should not exceed 0.002 g / l in a single portion of biological material. At the end of pregnancy, a value of up to 0.033 g / l is considered the norm. This is mild proteinuria, because the load on the kidneys is very high. If the indicator is greatly increased, then this indicates serious pathologies.

Pathology: accompanying symptoms

Increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman - what is it? In medical practice, this phenomenon is called proteinuria and may indicate a serious complication of pregnancy. This condition may be associated with diseases of the kidneys, bladder or urethra. If an increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman is determined, this may not be a pathology. Physiological proteinuria occurs, which is caused by stress, heavy physical exertion or overeating (affects the use of large amounts of meat and dairy products). A physiological increase in protein levels is observed for a short time, after which the indicators return to normal. At the same time, the general condition of the pregnant woman is not disturbed.

What does it mean - increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman? The laboratory assistant will write such a conclusion based on the results of a general urine test, if the protein is found in the biological material. The appearance of protein in the urine in the first half of pregnancy, an increase of more than 0.3 g per day, the repeated appearance ofsquirrel. Laboratory signs are usually accompanied by a general deterioration in the woman's condition. Severe weakness, tachycardia, headaches, swelling of the hands and feet, shins, face (mainly in the first half of the day), lower back pain, visual impairment (clouding, the appearance of flies before the eyes), increased blood pressure, headaches, involuntary muscle twitching, urination disorders (pain and burning, urinary retention or incontinence). A combination of symptoms is considered pathological and requires medical advice.

Repeated urine test during pregnancy

A woman takes a general urine test during pregnancy before each visit to the doctor. If there are no complications, then the analysis is repeated every fourteen days up to 30 weeks, and then every seven days. This is a mandatory analysis, the results of which can detect a large number of pathological conditions at the preclinical stage. Usually, when an increased protein in the urine is detected in a pregnant woman, a second analysis is prescribed. Physiological proteinuria does not require treatment. At the same time, the amount of protein during repeated analyzes does not increase, and the woman is not worried about anything in her state of he alth. If a pathology is detected, appropriate measures must be taken immediately.

Reasons for high protein

What does it mean - increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman? The supervising doctor can receive such test results if the woman simply did not follow the rules for collecting biological material. In this case, reanalysis usually does not showcomplications. If an increased amount of protein is detected in repeated results, then it is necessary to find out the causes of the pathology. Preeclampsia is usually the cause of increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman. A doctor can suspect this dangerous condition not only on the basis of test results, but also on other symptoms. To clarify the diagnosis, complex diagnostics are needed.

What does high protein in the urine of a pregnant woman mean? If the doctor detects preeclampsia, he will insist on hospitalization. Distinguishing this dangerous condition from kidney disease is quite difficult, because many of them are characterized by the same symptoms. In any case, the pregnant woman should be under the supervision of medical professionals. Also, increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman can be a sign of kidney disease: pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, and so on. The doctor will determine the exact diagnosis.

Increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman can be triggered by diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, polycystic. In rare cases, an increase in readings can be triggered by taking certain medications, excessive sweating before filling the reservoir with body fluid, increased body temperature, eating a large amount of dairy products or eggs before taking the test.

Correct collection of urine for analysis

Analysis is a mandatory study during childbearing before each visit to the observing doctor. The causes of increased protein in the urine in pregnant women often lie only in the incorrect collection of biologicalmaterial for analysis. You need to properly prepare. What increases protein in urine in pregnant women? The day before the analysis, it is advisable to limit the amount of meat dishes, s alty, spicy and sour foods in the diet.

You need to collect morning urine in a clean container. It is better to use sterile jars to collect material from the pharmacy. Before filling, you need to toilet the genitals. The jar needs to be filled with an average portion. If there is vaginal discharge, cover it with a cotton swab to prevent discharge from entering the container. The urine must then be sent to the hospital for analysis within a maximum of two hours after collection.

For many pregnant women, collecting morning urine is a problem because urination becomes more frequent, so there is literally nothing to collect in the morning. In this case, doctors recommend detecting an extreme trip to the toilet in a small way at night and filling the jar. In extreme cases, collected urine can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four hours.

Symptoms and causes of preeclampsia in pregnant women

Increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman is most often caused by preeclampsia - late toxicosis. Late toxicosis is characterized by a deep disorder of vital organs and systems. "Pure" gestosis is observed in pregnant women who have not previously been ill with anything, but usually the pathology is observed against the background of hypertension, diseases of the kidneys and biliary tract, pathologies of the endocrine system, disorders of fat metabolism.

The reasons for the development of preeclampsia so farnot clarified. Currently, several possible theories of the origin of pathology are being considered. Some gynecologists consider preeclampsia a kind of neurosis with a violation of the relationship between the subcortical formations and the cerebral cortex. Other experts are of the opinion that disorders in the functioning of the heart and blood vessels and blood supply to internal organs occur as a result of endocrine disorders.

There is an immunological theory according to which the changes characteristic of late toxicosis of pregnant women occur due to an inadequate response of the body to certain antigens of fetal tissues (this is not observed during a normal pregnancy). Supporters of the genetic theory point to an increase in the frequency of gestosis in women whose mothers also suffered from this pathology during pregnancy. Some doctors argue that during a physiologically normal pregnancy, changes occur in the vessels of the uterus that feed the placenta. If this does not happen in full, late toxicosis occurs.

With increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman, the doctor pays attention to the accompanying symptoms. Edema occurs, but not always edema during gestation is associated with preeclampsia. After the twentieth week of pregnancy, kidney damage may develop. This is manifested by an increase in blood pressure along with an increase in protein in the urine of a pregnant woman and edema.

A severe stage of preeclampsia develops in 5% of pregnant women (often primiparous). Against this background, signs of CNS damage appear. At the same time, a womanconcerned about the feeling of heaviness in the back of the head, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision (the appearance of flies before the eyes). The most severe stage of late toxicosis of pregnant women (eclampsia) is characterized by a complex set of symptoms, the most frequent of which are seizures. During an attack, intracranial hemorrhage, that is, a stroke, can occur. Early detachment is likely, which can cause fetal death.

Treatment of preeclampsia during pregnancy

What does high protein in pregnant urine mean? This may indicate gestosis. Self-medication when late toxicosis is detected is unacceptable, because this will lead to a deterioration in the condition of both the pregnant woman herself and the fetus. It is usually not possible to completely cure preeclampsia, but this condition can be controlled to prevent complications. For a pregnant woman, a therapeutic and protective regimen should be created, sedative drugs are prescribed, and the functions of important organs are restored by medication. Timely and careful delivery is necessary. If preeclampsia can be corrected, then doctors do not stimulate premature birth.

Diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract

Kidney pathologies are observed in 15-20% of pregnant women. This is accompanied by a decrease in appetite, an increase in body temperature, a deterioration in general he alth, constant weakness, pain in the side or lower back, increased sweating, and vomiting may occur with purulent pyelonephritis. A symptom of the inflammatory process is constant pain in the kidneys. If you experience these symptoms, you should definitely contactdoctor. If the tests confirm the presence of pathology, the woman will be referred to a nephrologist.

Pyelonephritis can provoke premature birth, fetal developmental disorders due to poisoning with toxins, malfunctions of the mother's nervous system. The disease can turn into a chronic form if treatment is not started on time. Much less common is glomerulonephritis, an inflammatory disease that occurs as a result of malfunctions in the central nervous system. The condition is accompanied by an increase in blood pressure, high fever, pain in the side, severe swelling and convulsive seizures. The disease develops rapidly. Can cause miscarriage, developmental delays in the baby.

In pyelonephritis, for example, herbal anti-inflammatory drugs and diuretics are prescribed. In some cases, antibiotics are needed. To eliminate congestion, it is recommended not to sleep on your back. You should spend more time in motion and get on all fours more often. Usually, during treatment, the protein level decreases rapidly. If this does not happen, the doctor may suspect preeclampsia, the treatment of which is already much more difficult. Usually, doctors wait for the indicators to stabilize and maintain them normal until the birth. Sometimes it is possible to fully bear the fetus for all nine months, but the threat of premature delivery with such a pathology is always present.

Consequences of increased protein in the urine of pregnant women

High protein content can signal various pathologies and dangerous for maintaining pregnancydiseases. The consequences of increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman can be acute circulatory failure, hemorrhage and convulsions, the child suffers from oxygen deficiency and develops more slowly. With systematic detection and elevated rates, a pregnant woman is usually referred for inpatient treatment in order to monitor the condition of the expectant mother and fetus.

Pregnancy can be successful even with high levels of protein in the urine. It all depends on the pathology that provokes such test results. If a dangerous condition is diagnosed in a timely manner and the causes of its occurrence are eliminated, the consequences of the disease can also be avoided. For example, it is enough to cure an inflammatory process or an infection in the kidneys in order to preserve the he alth of the mother and unborn child with minimal damage. After the examination, it is not the symptom (that is, the increased protein content) that is treated, but the cause that caused it.

Prevention of pregnancy complications

A woman in position should be aware of the seriousness of the situation, so you need to pay attention to good nutrition and in your general state of he alth. It is advisable to measure blood pressure twice a day. You can not ignore the ringing in the ears, darkening in the eyes, headache. The physiological tendency to edema during pregnancy involves controlling the amount of fluid. It is important to control weight, because extra pounds provoke the progression of preeclampsia. It is advisable to reduce the amount of consumed dairy products,pepper, smoked meats, chocolate, s alt, coffee and black tea, meat with a crust. Dieting should be especially careful in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

To facilitate the work of the kidneys, which are already under increased stress during pregnancy, many women are recommended herbal preparations, namely Canephron or Fitolizin. "Canephron", for example, has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and antioxidant effects, which is due to the plant components that make up the drug. It is used both as part of therapy and for prevention. Diuretic herbal teas, lingonberry and cranberry juice are quite effective. But before using any means, you should definitely consult a doctor.