Microalbuminuria: A Mere Marker or An Ominous Sign?

Microalbuminuria represents a condition wherein the urinary albumin excretion is in the range of 30 mg/24 hrs -300 mg/24 hrs. Recently microalbuminuria is gaining attention as more than just a surrogate marker of kidney damage. Although apparently representing passage of a rather trace amount of protein excretion, this has great implication in terms of clinico-pathological association with diabetic nephropathy and other cardiovascular complications in subjects with or without diabetes. Early detection of microalbuminuria is considered to be the aim of clinicians in context to patient's health perspective so as to change the treatment strategy accordingly. Therefore quite reasonably, understanding of exact patho-physiological significance of microalbuminuria and its prognostic impact in kidney diseases should be of immense help in providing better clinical outcome. To this end, an approach from the clinical biochemistry perspective might provide a better overview. The present commentary is an endeavor to address several relevant issues in this context for development of a better insight.