ALBUMIN/CREATININE RATIO, AS PREDICTOR OF MICROALBUMINURIA, A RISK FACTOR FOR NEPHROPATHY IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS.

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by proteinuria and is the leading cause of end-stage
renal disease worldwide. A case control study was designed to determine the prevalence of
microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetic subjects. 50 subjects with type 2 diabetes and 50 normal
healthy controls were screened for albumin and creatinine. The urinary albumin was
calculated in terms of ratio with respect to urinary creatinine and expressed as
albumin/creatinine ratio (mg/g). Albumin/Creatinine ratio in controls was found to be 11.05 ±
4.52 mg/g. The mean ± SD of Albumin/Creatinine ratio in total 50 patients was 38.77 ± 23.13
mg/g. The value of urinary albumin between 30 and 300 mg/g of creatinine was considered to
be positive for microalbuminuria. Out of total 50 diabetic subjects, 31 patients were found to
have albumin excretion of more than 30 mg/g of creatinine in random morning samples and
therefore positive for microalbuminuria. The prevalence of microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetic
subjects in this study was 62%. Use of the albumin-to-creatinine ratio in an untimed urinary
sample should be recommended as the preferred screening strategy for all diabetic patients.