Urine Micro Albumin

Microalbuminuria is defined as a condition characterized by urinary albumin excretion above 19 mg/l, normal urinary excretion for adults, in the absence of clinically detectable nephropathy. A number of investigators using immunoassays for albumin have established a range of 20 or 30 mg/l to 200 mg/l as diagnostic for microalbuminuria. Individuals with an established diagnosis of diabetes or essential hypertension represent the most important groups to be followed for elevations in albumin excretion rates. Microalbuminuria may have causes other than incipient diabetic nephropathy. Subclinical elevations in urinary albumin excretion rates may be caused by urinary tract infections, congestive heart disease, hypertension, exercise, non-diabetic renal disease and poor diabetic control.