Albumin Urine Test

An albumin urine test is used to measure the amount of albumin that is excreted in the urine. Albumin is a carrier protein that is used to transport material that is lipid-based through the water-based medium of the blood. Albumin is a very crucial part of the human circulatory system and as such is something that is never excreted. Urine is created in the kidneys from a sieve-like action that ensures that large molecules like proteins and carbohydrates are not excreted leaving just smaller molecules to be excreted. However, if there is some kind of damage to the kidney’s this very situation could happen.

There are three levels of damage to the glomuler filtration of the kidneys. The first is proteinuria in which proteins are excreted in the urine. The next is when even heavier molecules and red blood cells pass right pass the filtration units into the urine. This is called hematuria. The last level is microalbuminuria, in which very small amounts of albumin and creatinine are excreted in the urine. This condition is quite unique to diabetics. Creatinine and albumin are usually measured in a ratio to judge the amount of kidney damage caused by diabetes. Creatine is a naturally occurring byproduct that is created from the breakdown of phosphocreatine in the muscles. This is excreted by the kidneys into the urine but if there is some kind of deficient function then the levels of creatinine will start to build up in the blood.

The other diseases that cause the symptoms of albuminuria include hepatitis, lupus, syphilis, nephrosclerosis, some types of drugs, and kidney infections among other more severe problems. Once kidney damage has occurred at a glomuler level in the kidneys due to diabetes, there is very little that can be done to save the kidneys and dialysis is usually the next course of action. This presents some problems in itself in the form of collapsed veins and possible infections. Thos who are put on dialysis don’t have a very positive prognosis for the future and apart from the quality of life being seriously affected, there is a reduced lifespan from the procedure. Renal failure is one the main signs that doctors look out for in diabetes because the damage from this point is usually a sign of the imminent rapid decline of the patient’s health. Some dietary modifications might be asked for to reduce creatinine levels.