Persistent trace/low level protein in urine

[Beau2016]

Hi all

I've had persistent trace or low level amounts of protein in urine tests since April -checked on 5 occasions at hospital. Sometimes there is also trace amounts of blood or white cells too.

Is this something to worry about or just part of the disease?

I get cystitis a lot, but doesn't necessarily coincide with urine tests.

I also have high BP and heart rate - which is put down to steroids, was normal before I started prednisolone.

On the plus side I started methotrexate injections 6 weeks ago and have significantly less pain - like a lot less!! Hoping this means I can finally get off steroids.

I'm seeing GP next week about heart rate just wondering if I should ask for urine to be checked again and if these things are related.

Thanks all

x

[Lillyoftheleaf]

Hello Beau2016, have you been diagnosed with lupus nephritis? If so this could be part of the symptoms still hanging around. You mentioned that you are going to the GP, it would be worth mentioning this so that they can keep an eye on it and if necessary if you are under a nephrologist , they should be monitoring this closely. Hope you get this sorted soon.

[Beau2016 in reply to Lillyoftheleaf]

Hi, no not been diagnosed with nephritis and kidney blood tests are ok, though serum creatinine is always low - don't know why but its never high so guessing thats ok.

I've been taken into hospital with suspected kidney stones many times but never find any when I get there - last time they treated me with 8 weeks of antibiotics but didn't get rid of protein.

I will mention to GP.

[Simbob]

Hi Beau2016,

I would defs follow up with your GP or rheumatology team :). Hope you manage to get to the bottom of it!

[Tonkie]

I’m so glad you put this post here. My daughter is having the same symptoms and we have been waiting for the bladder team for months. They keep cancelling appointments. She already has an autoimmune disease (rare eosinophilic gastroenteritis) but she’s having lupus type symptoms now. I’m in the UCTD category with a lot of lupus symptoms. They’re finally seeing her on the 25th and I’ll try and update what they do for her. She has persistent blood in her urine with no infection. Almost constant cystitis symptoms. Her kidney scan came back ok.

[MusicalFurbaby]

Hi Beau, yes I think it’s worth monitoring the urine for a bit to see whether the levels go up or down.

Interestingly, men and women can develop different problems in this area.

Women can get blood in urine during and after their period, even when wiping the area first.

Men can get signs of UTIs due to prostatitis, so that’s worth checking out too.

Hope your GP agrees to monitor things with you and that you get some clarity soon.