Classification and characterization of proteinuria types

Classification of proteinuria	Clinical setting	Typical level of proteinuria in adults	Predominant protein type
Transient proteinuria	Fever Vigorous exercise Vasopressor infusion Albumin infusion	<1 g/day	Albumin
Persistent proteinuria – orthostatic proteinuria	Uncommon over age 30 years, may occur in 2 to 5% of adolescents	<1 to 2 g/day	Albumin
Persistent proteinuria – overflow proteinuria	Multiple myeloma (monoclonal light chains) Hemolysis (hemoglobinuria) Rhabdomyolysis (myoglobinuria) Lysozymuria (lysozyme)	Variable, could be nephrotic range	Nonalbumin
Persistent proteinuria – glomerular proteinuria	Primary glomerular diseases Secondary glomerular diseases Diabetic kidney disease Hypertensive nephrosclerosis Reduced nephron number	Variable, often nephrotic range	Albumin
Persistent proteinuria – tubulointerstitial proteinuria	Heavy metal intoxications (eg, cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, chromium, uranium) Autoimmune or allergic interstitial inflammation Medication-induced interstitial injury (eg, NSAIDs) Genetic causes of chronic tubulointerstitial disease (eg, autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease)	<3 g/day	Nonalbumin
Post-renal proteinuria	Urinary tract infections Nephrolithiasis Genitourinary tumor	<1 g/day	Nonalbumin

NSAIDs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

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