Microalbuminuria in Diabetes

Diabetes has become the main public health challenge for the 21st century. Pronounced changes in the human environment and in human behavior and lifestyle, have accompanied globalization, and these have resulted in escalating rates of diabetes. Microalbuminuria is considered as a clinically important indicator of deteriorating renal function in diabetic patients. Microalbuminuria is the strong predictor of diabetic nephropathy, which is the main cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with diabetes mellitus. It is also characterized by increased prevalence of arterial hypertension, proliferative retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy. Detection of microalbuminuria is an indication for initiation of appropriate therapy for the purpose of preventing the advance of progressive diabetic nephropathy. Diabetic kidney disease or nephropathy is the most common cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD) or kidney failure. One of the early markers of not only diabetic nephropathy, but also vascular disease in patients with diabetes, is the presence of microalbuminuria. The primary constituent of urinary protein in diabetic nephropathy is albumin. Consequently, quantification of urinary albumin excretion is central to any description of diabetic renal disease. Other renal diseases that occur with greater frequency in diabetic patients include asymptomatic bacteriuria, pyelonephritis, papillary necrosis, and radiocontrast induced renal failure. Primary prevention of diabetes is the ideal. In this concern, this review briefly highlights the features of diabetes, diabetic nephropathy and different perspectives of microalbuminuria in diabetes.