microlabuminuria- what we need to know

During the last few years, a subtle increase in urinary albumin excretion (UAE) not detectable by routine methods, so called microalbuminuria, has been identified as a prognostic marker for renal and/or cardiovascular risk in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects . Consequently, assessment of microalbuminuria is now recommended as a risk stratification strategy not only
in diabetic subjects, but also in the management of hypertensive patients . In order to make the best clinical use of UAE, the physician who measures UAE should know several facts:

a. what kind of albumin molecules are present in the
urine, and which methods are most suitable for
assessing each of them;
b. what method of urine sampling is recommended and
how should one interpret the UAE values;
c. how can one reduce the variability of the UAE
estimate
d. how should one evaluate the results and manage the
patient based on the results of UAE determination.