In glomerulonephritis, proteinuria is typically which of the following?

In glomerulonephritis, proteinuria is typically which of the following?

• A. Less than 3 g/day
• B. 3-5 g/day
• C. Greater than 5 g/day
• D. Nephrotic-range proteinuria

Answer: (A)

In glomerulonephritis, protein leakage is usually subnephrotic, meaning the amount of protein lost in the urine is below the nephrotic threshold. Nephrotic-range proteinuria is defined as about 3.5 g per day or more and comes with edema, hypoalbuminemia, and lipid abnormalities—features of nephrotic syndrome rather than the classic nephritic/glomerulonephritis picture. So the typical value is less than about 3 g/day. If proteinuria were in the 3–5 g/day range or higher, that would indicate nephrotic-range proteinuria, which is not the usual presentation for glomerulonephritis.

In glomerulonephritis, protein leakage is usually subnephrotic, meaning the amount of protein lost in the urine is below the nephrotic threshold. Nephrotic-range proteinuria is defined as about 3.5 g per day or more and comes with edema, hypoalbuminemia, and lipid abnormalities—features of nephrotic syndrome rather than the classic nephritic/glomerulonephritis picture. So the typical value is less than about 3 g/day. If proteinuria were in the 3–5 g/day range or higher, that would indicate nephrotic-range proteinuria, which is not the usual presentation for glomerulonephritis.