LIMA JÚNIOR, Francisco de Assis de.
Resumo:
The presence of protein in urine is called comprehensively, proteinuria, but clinically refers to abnormal excretion of protein in urine. The main protein involved in proteinuria is albumin, which depending on the amount of concentration of the urine can be called microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria. Proteinuria is an indicator of kidney damage and is recognized as a risk factor for progression of renal and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to characterize proteinuria, emphasizing its clinical importance, with the purpose to update information and provide a line that allows a detailed study of proteinuria and the causes associated with it. To compose this review the articles were searched in the Bireme, Google Academic, Lilacs, Pubmed, Science Direct and Scielo databases, using the descriptors - proteinuria, albuminuria, microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria, nephrotic proteinuria. The bibliographic research selected articles published in the last 10 years in Portuguese, English and Spanish. This review reinforces the clinical importance of proteinuria as a diagnostic tool. This review reflects the clinical importance of protein as a diagnostic tool.