Albumin is a protei found in our blood. It is used to transport various substances in the blood, as well as to maintain fluid distribution in the body.
An albumin excretion in the urine, which is between 20 to 200 mg/l or 30-300 mg/24h is called a microalbuminuria. It is the mildest form of proteinuria.
The microalbumin test is a very early indicator of kidney damage. Even before the symptomatic manifestation of kidney damage, small amounts of albumin are excreted, which can be detected with a urine test.
Albumin is a protein formed by the liver and released into the blood. Therefore, it is found in relatively high concentrations in the blood plasma.
If the kidneys are damaged, there may be an increased permeability of the filter of the renal corpuscles to proteins. Consequently, albumin is increasingly excreted in the urine. Diabetes mellitus or arterial hypertension (hypertension) are possible causes of such a restriction of the filter function of the kidneys.
Albumin can also appear in the urine without pathological causes, e.g. after strong physical activity.
Since the albumin concentration is influenced by the dilution state of the urine, the amount of albumin is either determined in the 24h collectible urine and set in relation to the urine volume or set in spontaneous urine in relation to the amount of creatinine.
