Which of the following statement on microalbuminuria is not true?: (A) Cannot be detected by routine lab tests, (B) Urine protein less than 30-299 pg/day is called microalbuminuria, (C) Microalbuminuria is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients, (D) Microalbuminuria is the earliest marker of diabetic nephropathy.
Answer is B. The significance of microalbuminuria: Microalbuminuria is the finding of albumin in the urine not detectable by the urine dipstick which is sensitive to protein concentration > 1gm%. It precedes the decline in GFR and indicates the presence of renal and cardiovascular complications. Annual screening for microalbuminuria will allow the identification of patients with nephropathy at a point very early in its course. Definition of abnormalities in albumin excretion Category 24-hr-urine albumin (mg/24h) Dipstick analysis Spot collection (ug/mg creatinine) Normal Microalbuminuria Clinical albuminuria <30 30-299 >300 Negative Negative, trace, 1+ 1+ to 3+ <30 30-299 >300