Albuminuria is the presence of the protein albumin in urine, indicating kidney damage. A urine albumin test is used to diagnose kidney disorders, especially in diabetics and those with high blood pressure. The test measures the ratio of albumin to creatinine, with levels greater than 300 mg indicating albuminuria. Diabetics are tested annually for microalbuminuria, an early stage of kidney dysfunction. ACE inhibitors and ARBs are used to treat chronic kidney disease, and controlling blood sugar and pressure can minimize complications. Ethnic groups at risk for albuminuria include African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders.
Albuminuria is a disease in which the blood protein albumin is present in the urine. Normally, the kidneys filter out the proteins and they stay in the blood. Their presence in the urine may be due to kidney damage. An albuminuria test is often used to diagnose kidney disorders in people prone to kidney problems, such as diabetics and people with high blood pressure.
Healthy kidneys filter waste products from the blood, leaving behind large molecules, such as albumin, the major protein in human blood. Most proteins are too large to pass through the filters in the kidneys and urine. If the kidneys are damaged, however, there may be a loss of protein in the urine. This buildup of protein is known as albuminuria or proteinuria.
The traditional method of testing for albuminuria involved measuring the amount of albumin that had accumulated in urine collected over 24 hours. Now, however, it is possible to test this protein using a single urine sample. This has facilitated the use of a urine albumin test as a common screen for renal function. This test is especially valuable since there are no symptoms for this disorder in its early stages.
There are different degrees of albuminuria, all diagnosed based on the amount of protein in the urine. Because the amount of albumin can vary, depending on its degree in the urine, albumin concentrations are usually tested in conjunction with compound creatinine levels. This chemical is produced as a waste product from the use of muscles. Healthcare professionals look at the ratio of albumin to creatinine to diagnose albuminuria.
This ratio is usually less than 3.5 milligrams per millimole (mg/mmol) for women and 2.5 mg/mmol for men. Levels greater than 300 mg of albumin constitute a diagnosis of albuminuria. Smaller amounts constitute a condition known as microalbuminuria, an earlier stage of kidney dysfunction. Values from 30 to 300 mg are considered microalbuminuria if the test is repeated twice in this range. If albumin is found, further evaluations will be done to determine the extent of kidney damage.
Diabetics are tested for microalbuminuria annually, as this is often the first indication of chronic kidney disease. With type I diabetes, over time, this disease usually progresses to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant. Type II diabetics don’t always have such a poor prognosis for kidney problems. Drugs known as ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are used to treat chronic kidney disease, and ACE inhibitors are often given as a preventative measure to diabetic patients. Keeping your blood sugar and blood pressure under control can go a long way in minimizing the complications of kidney disease from diabetes.
High blood pressure can also cause chronic kidney disease which, if left unchecked, can lead to kidney failure. There is also a great deal of variation in people’s susceptibility to kidney disease based on their ethnic backgrounds. For example, African Americans are prone to kidney damage from only moderately high blood pressure levels. Ethnic groups at risk for albuminuria include African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders. Those who are overweight and elderly are also at a higher risk for this ailment.
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