Albuminuria: Its Importance in Disease Detection

Microalbuminuria is an important clinical marker in patients with diabetes because of its well-established association with progressive renal disease. It is also becoming increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in patients with hypertension and diabetes, and in the general population. This review will discuss (i) the relationship between microalbuminuria, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, (ii) the mechanism by which albumin is processed by the kidney and enters the urine in health and disease, and (iii) the complex nature of urinary albumin and how it can be measured.