Protein/Creatinine Ratio (Urine)

The urine protein test measures the amount of protein being excreted in the urine. A random urine sample can be used, which is much less cumbersome that a 24-hour urine sample collection. Creatinine, a by-product of muscle metabolism, is normally excreted into the urine at a constant rate. Proteins are not normally found in the urine, when your kidneys are functioning normally. Albumin, produced by the liver, makes up about 60% of the protein in the blood and the rest is a mixture of globulins, including immunoglobulins. If the kidneys are damaged, they become less effective at filtering, and measurable amounts of protein begin to find their way into the urine. Often, the smaller albumin molecules are detected first, and if the damage continues, the amount of protein in the urine increases, and globulins may also begin to be lost.
Proteinuria (protein in the urine) is frequently seen in chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure). The greater the kidney damage, the higher the level of protein found in the urine. Small amounts of protein in the urine often produce no clinical symptoms and can be a useful sign of early kidney disease and an indication to optimise your treatment to prevent further damage.