What can cause abnormal protein in blood?

What causes high blood protein?

  • Dehydration.
  • Chronic (long-term) inflammation or inflammatory disorders.
  • Infections caused by viruses, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV/AIDS.
  • Certain cancers, like multiple myeloma, sarcoidosis and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.
  • Severe liver or kidney disease.

What does abnormal protein in the blood mean?

Definition. By Mayo Clinic Staff. High blood protein (hyperproteinemia) is an increase in the concentration of protein in the bloodstream. High blood protein is not a specific disease or condition in itself, but it might indicate you have a disease. High blood protein rarely causes signs or symptoms on its own.

What diseases cause protein in blood?

Possible causes of high blood protein include:

  • Amyloidosis (buildup of abnormal proteins in your organs)
  • Dehydration.
  • Hepatitis B.
  • Hepatitis C.
  • HIV/AIDS.
  • Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
  • Multiple myeloma.

What cancers cause high protein in blood?

When plasma cells are cancerous and grow out of control, it’s called multiple myeloma. These cancer cells build up in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy cells. They also make M proteins. Higher levels of M protein in the blood can lead to complications.

How do I get my blood protein levels down?

Replacing some meat with vegetables and grains is an effective way to reduce protein intake. Vegetables and grains should form the main body of meals, with a supplementary protein source.

Moderate-protein foods

  1. bread.
  2. crackers.
  3. breakfast cereals.
  4. pasta.
  5. oats.
  6. corn.
  7. rice.

What is multiple myeloma see signs and symptoms?

Signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma can vary and, early in the disease, there may be none.

When signs and symptoms do occur, they can include:


  • Bone pain, especially in your spine or chest.
  • Nausea.
  • Constipation.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Mental fogginess or confusion.
  • Fatigue.
  • Frequent infections.
  • Weight loss.

What does protein in blood test mean?

If your total protein level is low, you may have a liver or kidney problem, or it may be that protein isn’t being digested or absorbed properly. A high total protein level could indicate dehydration or a certain type of cancer, such as multiple myeloma, that causes protein to accumulate abnormally.

What are the symptoms of too much protein in your blood?

There are serious risks associated with chronic protein overconsumption, including: cardiovascular disease. blood vessel disorders. liver and kidney injuries.

Symptoms associated with too much protein include:

  • intestinal discomfort and indigestion.
  • dehydration.
  • unexplained exhaustion.
  • nausea.
  • irritability.
  • headache.
  • diarrhea.

When should you suspect amyloidosis?

Unable to lie flat in bed due to shortness of breath. Numbness, tingling or pain in your hands or feet, especially pain in your wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome) Diarrhea, possibly with blood, or constipation. Unintentional weight loss of more than 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms)

When should you suspect multiple myeloma?

Your Doctor May Suspect Multiple Myeloma Before You Do

Low red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts, and platelet counts, which are common in multiple myeloma. High levels of calcium in your blood, called hypercalcemia. Abnormal proteins in your blood or urine.

Is myeloma a leukemia?

Unlike leukemia, a cancer of the immature blood cells you may have heard about, myeloma cells do not usually circulate in the blood stream but typically stay in the bone marrow. The problems myeloma cells cause and treatments used to treat myeloma are also different from leukemia.

Who is at risk for developing multiple myeloma?

The risk of developing multiple myeloma increases as people get older. Most cases occur in people who are at least 65 years old . The average age of people diagnosed with multiple myeloma is between 66 and 70 years old . About 37% of people with multiple myeloma are younger than 65 at the time of diagnosis.

Can diabetes cause high protein in blood?

Conclusion: Fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, glycosylated plasma proteins, serum fructosamine, sialic acid, hexosamine and total serum protein were increased in diabetic patients with and without complications but these parameters remained within normal limits in non-diabetic patients with retinopathy.

What happens if your protein is high?

Excess protein consumed is usually stored as fat, while the surplus of amino acids is excreted. This can lead to weight gain over time, especially if you consume too many calories while trying to increase your protein intake.

Will drinking water reduce protein in urine?

Drinking water will not treat the cause of protein in your urine unless you are dehydrated. Drinking water will dilute your urine (water down the amount of protein and everything else in your urine), but will not stop the cause of your kidneys leaking protein.

Where does multiple myeloma start?

Multiple myeloma is cancer that starts in plasma cells in your bone marrow. Plasma cells are part of your immune system. They normally make proteins called antibodies (immunoglobulins) that help fight infections. The bone marrow is the soft, inner part of some bones where all the different blood cells are made.

What mimics multiple myeloma?

Some other conditions can appear similar to multiple myeloma, including Lyme disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and arthritis. According to the National Cancer Institute , multiple myeloma may not cause any symptoms. If symptoms do appear, they can include: bone pain, particularly in the back or ribs.

What is the most definitive test to confirm a diagnosis of multiple myeloma?

Bone x-rays

X-rays can detect bone destruction caused by the myeloma cells. Often doctors will do a series of x-rays that includes most of the bones. This is called a bone survey or skeletal survey.

What infections cause high protein in blood?

What causes high blood protein?

  • Dehydration.
  • Chronic (long-term) inflammation or inflammatory disorders.
  • Infections caused by viruses, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV/AIDS.
  • Certain cancers, like multiple myeloma, sarcoidosis and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.
  • Severe liver or kidney disease.

What are normal protein levels in blood?

Normal Results

The normal range is 6.0 to 8.3 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or 60 to 83 g/L. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

How is multiple myeloma diagnosed?

Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis

Diagnosing multiple myeloma includes blood work, a 24-hour urine collection, a bone marrow biopsy, imaging studies (such as x-rays, MRIs, PET scans) and bone density tests.

What diseases are caused by protein misfolding?

Protein misfolding is believed to be the primary cause of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, cystic fibrosis, Gaucher’s disease and many other degenerative and neurodegenerative disorders.

What is the main cause of amyloidosis?

In general, amyloidosis is caused by the buildup of an abnormal protein called amyloid. Amyloid is produced in your bone marrow and can be deposited in any tissue or organ.

What blood tests are abnormal with amyloidosis?

Blood tests to look for stress and strain on the heart are useful in many forms of heart disease, including AL amyloidosis. The cardiac biomarkers that are used include troponin T or troponin I, and NT-proBNP (which stands for N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide) or BNP (brain natriuretic peptide).

Is amyloidosis a malignancy?

Amyloidosis is a rare disorder. Although it is not a type of cancer, it may be associated with certain blood cancers like multiple myeloma.

What is the main cause of multiple myeloma?

The exact cause of multiple myeloma is unknown. However, it starts with one atypical plasma cell that rapidly multiplies in the bone marrow. The resulting cancerous myeloma cells don’t have a typical life cycle. Instead of multiplying and eventually dying, they continue dividing indefinitely.

Is myeloma curable?

Treatment for multiple myeloma can often help control symptoms and improve quality of life. But myeloma usually can’t be cured, which means additional treatment is needed when the cancer comes back.

What is the life expectancy of a person with multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is an uncommon cancer of the blood. The median length of survival after diagnosis with multiple myeloma is 62 months for Stage I, 44 months for Stage II, and 29 months for Stage III. Life expectancy depends on many factors, including the person’s age, health, kidney function, and more.

Can proteinuria be cured?

Proteinuria cannot be prevented, but it can be controlled. Many of the causes of proteinuria can be treated (diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia and kidney disease), allowing your healthcare provider to improve the condition. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/15/2019.

What are the first signs of kidney disease?

Signs and symptoms of acute kidney failure may include:

  • Decreased urine output, although occasionally urine output remains normal.
  • Fluid retention, causing swelling in your legs, ankles or feet.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Fatigue.
  • Confusion.
  • Nausea.
  • Weakness.
  • Irregular heartbeat.

How do I stop my kidneys from leaking protein?

Possible treatment includes:

  1. Changes to your diet. If high levels of protein are caused by kidney disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, your doctor will give you specific diet changes.
  2. Weight loss. …
  3. Blood pressure medication. …
  4. Diabetes medication. …
  5. Dialysis.

What medications cause proteinuria?

You may develop proteinuria as a result of:

  • Chemotherapy drugs such as: Streptozocin.
  • Biologic therapies such as: Interleukin-2.
  • Certain diseases or conditions – Multiple myeloma will cause you to have a special kind of protein in your urine, called the “M-protein”, “myeloma protein”, or Bence-Jones protein.