What diagnostic finding would suggest hypertension during a UA?

The presence of protein in the urine, known as proteinuria, is a significant diagnostic finding in the context of hypertension. When blood pressure is consistently high, it can lead to damage to the glomeruli in the kidneys, resulting in an increased permeability of the renal filtration barrier. This altered permeability allows proteins, which are typically too large to pass through, to leak into the urine.

In patients with hypertension, the kidneys are often affected, and proteinuria can serve as an indicator of kidney damage, illustrating the relationship between chronic hypertension and potential kidney complications. Detecting protein in the urine often prompts further investigation into the underlying causes of hypertension, as it may suggest a need for interventions to manage not only the blood pressure but also the kidney health.

Other findings in a urine analysis, such as glucose, creatinine, or leukocytes, are not specific markers of hypertension and may indicate other health conditions rather than hypertension-related kidney impairment.