Protein Creatinine Ratio

The protein creatinine test is a screening test in patients suffering from diabetes and hypertension and who are at risk of developing kidney diseases. Plasma proteins are essential for the survival of all living things. The kidneys, which are two organs located near the lower back, filter the blood, remove waste products and expel them from the body through urine. When the kidneys are functioning well, the proteins after filtration are reabsorbed and returned to the bloodstream. Creatinine is a result of muscle metabolism that forms at a steady rate in the urine. The protein creatinine ratio is obtained after doing both a urine creatinine and a random urine protein test. The results come accurate after the 24-hour urine protein test. A random urine protein creatinine ratio is sometimes replaced with a 24-hour urine protein sample. Preserving all of the urine for 24 hours is challenging for adults and impossible for infants and children. If the kidneys are damaged or impaired due to other factors, they lose their ability to filter. Damaged kidneys allow detectable amounts of protein to leak into the urine. The presence of albumin in the urine can be detected using a dipstick test. Urine protein creatinine ratio test measures protein and creatinine levels in the urine sample. Normal protein excretion in the urine is less than 150 mg per day, while albumin excretion is less than 30 mg per day. This test estimates the amount of protein you excrete in your urine per day and does not require collecting a 24-hour sample of your urine for testing. Infections, stress, pregnancy, nutrition, cold exposure and intense exercise can cause temporary elevations in levels. Protein and creatinine in the urine for an extended time may indicate renal damage. Abnormal protein creatinine ratio in the urine due to underlying condition requires more testing to discover the cause. The liver produces a protein called albumin. This protein accounts for around 50% to 60% of the protein in the blood. Albumin is a critical component in detecting a probable kidney illness. The amount of albumin in the urine increases as kidney damage develops. Proteinuria or protein in the urine is a common symptom of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Increasing levels of protein in the urine indicate worsening kidney impairment. When it comes to early kidney injury, there are generally no indications or symptoms. Fluid build-up (oedema), shortness of breath, nausea and exhaustion may develop as kidney failure continues and protein loss is significant. Proteinuria can also be due to excessive protein synthesis, as observed in multiple myeloma, lymphoma and amyloidosis. In persons with diabetes or hypertension, the albumin in the urine (albuminuria) is a sensitive sign of kidney damage. Patients with these diseases should get urine checked for protein creatinine ratio rather than total urine protein regularly, especially in a country like India. In India, three in every ten people have hypertension. Further, hypertension is responsible for nearly 17.5% of all deaths in India.