Microalbuminuria - The new marker for Balkan Endemic Nephropathy?

Several criteria are necessary to meet in order to have the diagnosis of Balkan endemic nephropathy established. One of them is tubular proteinuria type that may be found, but not in the early stage of the disease. Beta 2 microglobulin may be found in the early stage, but its determination is rather cumbersome and not suitable for a daily routine. Therefore, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio was determined in 8 patients (all females, aged 58,37±4,37 years) from the town of aamac region (Bosnia and Herzegovina) as a measure of albumin excretion in order to establish useful marker in the early stage of the disease. Increased urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, was found in 50% of BEN patients. According to these preliminary results, microalbuminuria could be used as the reliable marker for the early detection of BEN.