Simplified screening for microalbuminuria
ASN 30th Annual Meeting, San Antonio
J Am Soc Nephrol (Sep) 8:96A 1997
Screening for microalbuminuria is widely advocated as a means of diagnosing renal involvement in diabetes mellitus and other diseases. In this study, albumin testing using RIA was compared to simpler methods (Micral, SSA, Chemstrip) in 280 random urine samples from an outpatient clinic. Of 74 urines negative by both Chemstrip and SSA, all had albumin concentrations by RIA of < 30 µg/ml. The authors believe that RIA should not be performed routinely but used to rule out and confirm abnormal findings by simpler tests.
Comment: Microalbuminuria is defined by a urine albumin excretion rate of > 30 mg/24h or 20 µg/min. Assuming 1 L urine output/day, this translates to > 30 µg/ml. The authors correctly note that negative tests by both Chemstrip and SSA make the possibility of a urine albumin concentration > 30 µg/ml very unlikely. However, the urine albumin concentration is inferior to the albumin excretion rate or albumin to creatinine ratio, since it is affected by differences in urine concentration. (David J. Leehey, M.D., Loyola University at Chicago)
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ASN 30th Annual Meeting, San Antonio
Proteinuria/Hematuria : Diagnostic approach to proteinuria
Proteinuria/Hematuria : Diabetes