Protein in the urine is called proteinuria, but may also be referred to as albuminuria or microalbuminuria. Your kidneys make urine by cleaning waste and extra fluid from your blood. Your kidneys also help prevent the loss of things that your body needs, like protein.

Proteinuria happens when your kidneys let protein leak into your urine. If proteinuria goes untreated, it can worsen the kidney function by damaging the kidney’s filtering system.

Symptoms of proteinuria could include:

• Foamy or frothy urine
• Increase in weight
• High blood pressure (hypertension)