Normally a physician will order the urine and the blood albumin test along with some other tests if the person appears to have some symptoms of either a liver disorder or a nephrotic syndrome. Doctors can possibly also order a blood albumin test when they specifically want to check on the person's nutritional status. This is done if a person has lost a large amount of weight for no apparent reason. If the albumin levels are low then it can suggest a liver disease.
Low albumin levels are known to reflect the diseases where in the kidneys are unable thus being lost. In these cases, the amount of the albumin or of the protein in the patients' urine also can be measured. The low albumin levels may also be seen in cases of inflammation or shock or in malnutrition. Low albumin levels can also suggest various conditions in which the patient's body does not correctly absorb and then digest the protein or where in large quantities of the proteins are lost from their intestines. High levels of albumin usually reflect a case of dehydration. One can test at home for high albumin levels in the person's urine with the help of a dipstick that can be purchased in any drug store. Thus the test for a urinary albumin helps measure the amount of protein in a person's urine.
Normally an increase in the urinary albumin excretion is an indicator of an increased permeability of some of the filters of the kidney called as glomerulus. Transient proteinuria can be associated with the physical exertion and even with fever. One may be also be suffering from persistent proteinuria. The most common causes of such kind of proteinuria include hypertension, diabetes, and any chronic inflammatory disease like systemic lupus erythematosus or even rheumatoid arthritis. It can even be caused by some infections like hepatitis B and C or malaria and maybe even nephritis. Also some use of some of the counter drugs like herbal remedies or pain killers, can result in this condition. It can be caused by emotional stress too. The doctor may check for diabetes or any family history of a kidney disease. They may even do a screening for the disease hepatitis and can require a cholesterol check. This test is normally done to check out the functioning of the patient's kidneys. It is can be also used as the basic screening test.
Submitted by M H on April 1, 2010 at 06:00