Question Title: Protein in urine

What could it meen when protein in the urine is found in an 11 year old healthy active female child? You should know that the mother of this child developed gestation diabetes during the pregnancy.

Dear Ken,

You do not say why the urine was tested in the first place. In answering you, I will assume that the urinalysis was part of a routine check-up.

First, the fact that her mother had gestational diabetes is nothing that you would need to worry about in connection with this finding. There is no reason to believe that what occurred eleven years ago is connected with this urinalysis result.

Proteinuria (protein in the urine) is defined as excretion of more than 150 milligrams of protein per 24 hour period. This level should be measured with a 24-hour urine sample (collecting all the urine during a 24 hour period).
There are four different kinds of proteinuria.
Glomerular: this is the most common type and is found in patients with damage to the glomerulus, which is a microscopic cluster of blood-filtering vessels in the kidneys. The damage to these allows spillage of proteins into the urine.
Tubular: this is due to damage to microscopic tubules in the kidneys that are responsible for reabsorbing proteins.
Overflow: this is due to the presence of abnormal quantities of proteins in plasma finding their way into the urine.
Functional: the mechanism responsible is unknown. It tends to occur intermittently and may appear as a result of fever, strenuous exercise, or emotional stress.

I would suggest that you discuss the above reasons with her physician who will probably want to perform another urinalysis to see what her results are like in comparison with that one reading.
There are further studies that your doctor can order if s/he feels they are warranted.

This information is provided for general medical educational purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition. More individualized care is available at the Henry Ford Hospital and its satellites (1 800 653-6568).

Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-BE
*keyword: proteinuria

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