A condition in which small amounts of the blood protein albumin leak into the urine. Microalbuminuria occurs during the early stages of kidney failure in people with diabetes. The first stage of microalbuminuria and kidney disease in people with diabetes is characterized by an elevated rate of filtration in the kidneys, with the glomeruli (filtering units of the kidneys) showing damage.
The excretion of very small amounts of albumin in the urine, (too small to be detected by simple dipstick testing). The loss of 30 to 300 mg of albumin in a 24-hr urinary specimen defines microalbuminuria. In a spot urine test, microalbuminuria is defined by an albumin-to-creatinine ratio of 30 to 300.
A minor elevation in the amount of the protein albumin detected in urine, commonly attributed to initial kidney impairment. Microalbuminuria signifies an early indicator of kidney dysfunction among individuals with diabetes mellitus. If not addressed, it has the potential to progress to diabetic kidney disease in individuals with type 1 diabetes, or to heighten the likelihood of cardiovascular complications for those with type 2 diabetes.
The rise is too minimal to be detected through standard urine dipstick assessments, yet it can be validated through 24-hour urine analysis or specialized kits. Typically, treatment involving ACE inhibitor medications is recommended, even if the individual’s blood pressure appears to be within the normal range.