Which term describes the presence of abnormally high concentrations of protein in the urine?

• A. Hyperproteinuria
• B. Hypoproteinemia
• C. Hydronephrosis
• D. Nephritis

Answer: (A)

When protein shows up in urine at higher-than-normal levels, the term used is hyperproteinuria. The prefix “hyper-” signals an excessive amount, so this label pinpoints the abnormal increase in urinary protein excretion. The broader idea is proteinuria, which describes protein in the urine, but the “hyper-” form specifically indicates it’s abnormally elevated.

In contrast, hypoproteinemia refers to low protein levels in the blood, not the urine; hydronephrosis is a dilation of the kidney due to urine buildup and isn’t about protein content; nephritis is inflammation of the kidneys, which can accompany proteinuria but describes a different process.