Kidneys and bubbles in urine

[Guest guest]

One thing I did learn through my latest ER visit and subsequent research about kidney issues, is that you can get an idea how your kidneys are doing by looking at your urine.If it has little bubbles in it, or is somewhat frothy, instead of being totally clear and having an undisturbed water surface in the toilet bowl, that could be cause for concern. Some people will have bubbles from a forceful stream of urine hitting the toilet bowl. This is different...I have seen the bubbles in my urine decrease after taking the Levaquin and drinking lots of water. Now my urine is totally clear. Here is one explanation: Foam formation in urine could be a manifestation of excess proteins in urine especially albumen.

The most general definition of foam is a substance that is formed

by trapping many gas bubbles in a liquid. Excess protein can cause the

urine to foam in water. This occurs because protein changes the surface

tension between urine and water in much the same way that a detergent

decreases water surface tension. Protein, as well as detergent, in this

case is what physicists call a surface active substance.

Normally proteins are not found in urine (less than150 mg per day)

and their presence could be due to many factors which could be a

manifestation of a kidney disease. Albumin makes up about 30mg per day. Hence, total protein above 150 mg or albumin

above 30 mg per day are abnormal. Total protein above 300 mg per day is

known as clinical proteinuria and is usually accompanied by various

other clinical manifestations such as generalized edema.

Before we jump to any conclusions you should have a dipstick test

for urinary protein or a simple urine analysis. For a more precise

measurement, you may need to collect urine for 24 hours (microalbumin

study - between 30 - 300 mg albumin per day).

It may also be something as simple as a forceful flow of urine that

could make a foamy type of appearance due to excess trapping of air in

urine as it contacts water.

I would recommend a you do a microalbumin study if you are still

concerned. Renal function can easily be assessed by renal function

tests and determination of glomerular filtration rates.