Albumin Excretion as a Measure of Glomerular Dysfunction in Children

The urine albumin/creatinine concentration ratio (UA/UC) and the albumin excretion rate per unit weight (UAV/Wt) have been compared with the theoretically ideal parameter for measuring glomerular damage, clearance of albumin/clearance of creatinine (CA/CC), using a simple sensitive immunochemical technique for albumin. It is shown that UA/UC on random urine specimens can be as satisfactorily used to predict CA/CC as UAV/Wt. Normal data over a wide range of body size of this simple parameter are presented; higher values in the newborn reflect increased permeability of the neonatal glomerulus.