Other names: Alb/Creat Ratio, Urine Albumin/Urine Creatinine Ratio
Test is useful for:
- Calculating the albumin concentration per creatinine.
- Assessing the potential for early onset of nephropathy in diabetics using random urine specimens
What is being tested?
The Albumin/Creatinine Ratio helps identify kidney disease, a complication that arises with diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that routine urinalysis be performed annually on adults with diabetes.
What are the two components being tested?
This test has the two components tested.
Albumin is a protein that is present in high concentrations in the blood. Virtually no albumin is present in the urine when the kidneys are functioning normally. Albumin may be detected even in the very early stages of kidney disease, which makes it a very reliable test.
Creatinine is normally released into urine at a constant rate and its level in the urine is an indication of the urine concentration. This allows creatinine to be measured correctly in this test.
Besides kidney disease, what else is being screened for?
The Albumin/Creatinine Ratio is used to screen people with chronic conditions such as:
- diabetes
- high blood pressure, which puts these people at an increased risk of developing kidney disease.
By doing this test, an individual in the very early stages of kidney disease can be identified. This is useful for the doctor or healthcare provider to adjust treatment accordingly.
Why is that screening important?
Controlling diabetes and hypertension by maintaining tight glycemic control and reducing blood pressure helps in delaying or preventing the progression of kidney disease.
The prognostic value of consistently elevated albumin levels is particularly well established in diabetic patients.
More on proteins in plasma and urine and the kidney:
Albumin accounts for approximately 50% of the protein in plasma.
The kidney works to prevent the loss of albumin into the urine through active resorption, but a small amount of albumin can be measured in urine of individuals with normal renal function.
What is renal disease?
Renal disease is a common microvascular complication of diabetes. Without specific interventions, 80% of type I diabetics with repeatedly elevated albumin levels will go on to end-stage renal disease. Twenty percent to 40% of type II diabetics with sustained albuminuria will progress to overt nephropathy.
Note on testing intervals:
According to the American Diabetes Association and National Kidney Foundation, everyone with type 1 diabetes should get tested starting 5 years after onset of the disease and then annually, and all those with type 2 diabetes should get tested starting at the time of diagnosis and then annually. If albumin in the urine (= albuminuria) is detected, it should be confirmed by retesting twice within a 3-6 month period. People with hypertension may be tested at regular intervals, with the frequency determined by their healthcare practitioner.
More on Albuminuria:
Albuminuria, as a marker of kidney damage, provides a more specific and sensitive measurement of glomerular permeability than does proteinuria. An Albumin/Creatinine Ratio measured from a spot urine sample acquired in the early morning is preferred for initial evaluation of albuminuria. This test can also be used to confirm a positive reagent strip urinalysis result. A moderately increased Albumin/Creatinine Ratio (≥30 mg/g) for more than 3 months is diagnostic of CKD. The severity of albuminuria is also used for staging and prognosis of CKD.
Albuminuria generally appears before the reduction of glomerular filtration rate in people with diabetic glomerulosclerosis but may appear later in people with hypertensive nephrosclerosis. Albuminuria is independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. In individuals with diabetes and/or hypertension, early identification of albuminuria that prompts blood pressure and glycemic control may subsequently reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and CKD progressing to end-stage renal disease. Referral to specialist kidney care services is recommended in individuals with a consistent finding of severely increased Albumin/Creatinine Ratio (≥300 mg/g).
Factors that affect urinary Albumin/Creatinine Ratio include menstrual blood contamination, symptomatic urinary tract infections, exercise, upright posture (orthostatic proteinuria), and other conditions that increase vascular permeability (eg, septicemia). Given the pathological and physiological causes of transient albuminuria, repeating Albumin/Creatinine Ratio tests twice with early morning urine samples in the next 2 months is recommended. Albumin/Creatinine Ratio from a timed urine sample can provide a more accurate estimate of albuminuria.
The results of this test should be interpreted in the context of pertinent clinical and family history and physical examination findings.
REFERENCES:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7810516/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7708068/
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In random urine specimens, normal urinary albumin excretion is below 17 mg/g creatinine for males and below 25 mg/g creatinine for females. Microalbuminuria is defined as an albumin:creatinine ratio of 17 to 299 for males and 25 to 299 for females. A ratio of albumin:creatinine of 300 or higher is indicative of overt proteinuria. Due to biologic variability, positive results should be confirmed by a second, first-morning random or 24-hour timed urine specimen. If there is discrepancy, a third specimen is recommended. When 2 out of 3 results are in the microalbuminuria range, this is evidence for incipient nephropathy and warrants increased efforts at glucose control, blood pressure control, and institution of therapy with an angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (if the patient can tolerate it).
Common causes of protein in the urine include diabetes, hypertension and glomerulonephritis to name only a few conditions.
This test indicates that you have an abnormal amount of protein in your urine possibly caused by damage to the kidney from hypertension (or some other condition if you have one).
- If your microalbumin creatinine ratio shows albumin in your urine, you may get tested again to confirm the results.
- If your results continue to show albumin in urine, it may mean you have early-stage kidney disease.
- If your test results show high levels of albumin, it may mean you have kidney failure.
- If you are diagnosed with kidney disease, your health care provider will take steps to treat the disease and/or prevent further complications.
If small amounts of albumin are found in your urine, it doesn't necessarily mean you have kidney disease. Urinary tract infections and other factors can cause albumin to show up in urine. If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.
If you have diabetes, follow your healthcare practitioner's instructions for maintaining control over your blood glucose level. Keeping high blood pressure under control is also effective in preventing kidney damage that leads to albumin in urine (albuminuria). Some studies have shown that those who have albuminuria can prevent it from worsening or may reverse it with good glycemic control and blood pressure control, or by quitting smoking.
Albumin in the urine (albuminuria) is not specific for diabetes. It may also be associated with hypertension (high blood pressure), some lipid abnormalities, and several immune disorders. Elevated results may also be caused by vigorous exercise, blood in the urine, urinary tract infection, dehydration, and some drugs.
Studies have shown that elevated levels of urinary albumin in people with diabetes or hypertension are associated with increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). More recently, research has been focused on trying to determine if increased levels of albumin in the urine are also indicative of CVD risk in those who do not have diabetes or high blood pressure. There is currently some evidence that albuminuria is associated with an increased risk of death in adults.
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Unlimited Plan Member since 2021
I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
Karin
Advanced Plan Member since 2020
What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
Paul
Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024
As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
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