Question: Can Hepatitis B Cause Protein in the Urine?
I was sent to a kidney doctor because I have protein in the urine. He said it might be because I am a hepatitis B carrier. Can hepatitis B cause protein in the urine?
Answer: Yes. It is well known that a hepatitis B infection can lead to protein loss in the urine (proteinuria). It is usually due to a type of kidney disease called membranous nephropathy, which can lead to heavy loss of protein in the urine. It is thought to be caused by the hepatitis B e antigen (HbeAg) being deposited in the glomerulus. To know for sure, you would need a kidney biopsy. In children, the disease generally resolves without serious complications. However, in adults, it can lead to progressive kidney failure.
Source:
Appel, Geral. “Secondary Glomerular Disease.” Brenner & Rector’s The Kidney 7th Edition. Ed. Barry M. Brenner. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2004. 1382-1443.