Mau urine test is normal. Urine test for microalbumin (MAU) What should be the norm for MAU urine test?

Microalbuminuria (MAU) may be the first sign of kidney dysfunction and is characterized by abnormally high amounts of protein in the urine. Proteins such as albumin and immunoglobulins help blood clot, balance fluid in the body and fight infection.

The kidneys remove waste substances from the blood through millions of filtering glomeruli. Most proteins are too large to pass through this barrier. But when the glomeruli are damaged, proteins pass through them and enter the urine, which is what the microalbumin test reveals. People with diabetes or hypertension are more at risk.

What is microalbumin?

Microalbumin is a protein that belongs to the albumin group. It is produced in the liver and then circulates in the blood. The kidneys are a filter for the circulatory system, removing harmful substances (nitrogenous bases), which are sent to the bladder in the form of urine.

Typically, a healthy person loses a very small amount of protein in the urine; in tests this is displayed as a number (0.033 g) or the phrase “traces of protein detected” is written.

If the blood vessels of the kidneys are damaged, then more protein is lost. This leads to the accumulation of fluid in the intercellular space - edema. Microalbuminuria is a marker of the early stage of this process before the development of clinical manifestations.

Research indicators - norm and pathology

In people with diabetes, UIA is usually detected during a routine medical examination. The essence of the study is to compare the ratio of albumin and creatinine in urine.

Table of normal and pathological analysis parameters:

The normal level of albumin in urine should not be higher than 30 mg.

To differentiate between kidney disease and diabetic nephropathy, two tests are performed. For the first, a urine sample is used and protein levels are examined. For the second, they take blood and check the glomerular filtration rate of the kidneys.

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes, so it is important to get tested at least once a year. The earlier it is detected, the easier it is to treat in the future.

Causes of the disease

Microalbuminuria is a possible complication of type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus, even if it is well controlled. About one in five people diagnosed with diabetes will develop MAU within 15 years.

But there are other risk factors that can cause microalbuminuria:

Symptoms of microalbuminuria

In the early stages there are no symptoms. In later stages, when the kidneys do not cope well with their functions, you may notice changes in the urine and notice the appearance of edema.

In general, several main symptoms can be noted:

1. Changes in urine: as a result of increased protein excretion, creatinine may take on a foamy appearance.
2. Edema syndrome - a decrease in albumin levels in the blood causes fluid retention and swelling, which is primarily noticeable in the arms and legs. In more severe cases, ascites and facial swelling may occur.
3. Increased blood pressure - there is a loss of fluid from the bloodstream and, as a result, thickening of the blood occurs.

Physiological manifestations

Physiological symptoms depend on the cause of microalbuminuria.

These include:

How to collect analysis?

How to submit urine for analysis is one of the frequently asked questions to a doctor.

An albumin test can be done on a urine sample collected:

• at random times, usually in the morning;
• within a 24 hour period;
• during a certain period of time, for example at 16.00 pm.

An average portion of urine is required for analysis. A morning sample provides the best information about albumin levels.

The UIA test is a simple urine test. It does not require special preparation. You can eat and drink as usual, you should not limit yourself.

Technique for collecting morning urine:

1. Wash your hands.
2. Remove the lid from the test container and place it with the inside surface facing up. Do not touch the inside with your fingers.
3. Start urinating into the toilet, then continue into the test jar. Collect about 60 ml of midstream urine.
4. Within an hour or two, the analysis should be delivered to the laboratory for testing.

To collect urine over a 24-hour period, do not save the first urine sample in the morning. Over the next 24 hours, collect all urine in a special large container, which should be stored in the refrigerator overnight.

Decoding the results:

1. Less than 30 mg is normal.
2. From 30 to 300 mg – microalbuminuria.
3. More than 300 mg – macroalbuminuria.

There are several temporary factors that affect the test result (they should be taken into account):

• hematuria (blood in the urine);
• fever;
• recent vigorous exercise;
• dehydration;
• urinary tract infections.

Some medications may also affect urinary albumin levels:

• antibiotics, including aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, penicillins;
• antifungal drugs (Amphotericin B, Griseofulvin);
• Penicillamine;
• Phenazopyridine;
• salicylates;
• Tolbutamide.

Video from Dr. Malysheva about urinalysis indicators, their standards and reasons for changes:

Treatment of pathology

Microalbuminuria is a sign that you are at risk of developing serious and potentially life-threatening conditions such as chronic kidney disease and coronary heart disease. This is why it is so important to diagnose this pathology at an early stage.

Microalbuminuria is sometimes called "incipient nephropathy" because it can be the onset of nephrotic syndrome.

If you have diabetes mellitus in combination with UIA, you need to get tested once a year to monitor your condition.

Treatment with medications and lifestyle changes can help prevent further kidney damage. It can also reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

• exercise regularly (150 minutes per week of moderate intensity);
• stick to a diet;
• stop smoking (including electronic cigarettes);
• reduce your consumption of alcoholic beverages;
• Monitor your blood sugar levels and if they are significantly elevated, consult a doctor immediately.

For high blood pressure, various groups of medications for hypertension are prescribed, most often these are angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). Their use is important because high blood pressure accelerates the development of kidney disease.

The presence of microalbuminuria may be a sign of damage to the cardiovascular system, so the attending physician may prescribe statins (Rosuvastatin, Atorvastatin). These medications lower cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the chance of having a heart attack or stroke.

If edema is present, diuretics may be prescribed, for example, Veroshpiron.

In severe situations with the development of chronic kidney disease, hemodialysis or kidney transplantation will be required. In any case, it is necessary to treat the underlying disease that is causing the proteinuria.

A healthy diet will help slow the progression of microalbuminuria and kidney problems, especially if it also lowers blood pressure, cholesterol and prevents obesity.

In particular, it is important to reduce the number of:

• saturated fat;
• table salt;
• foods high in protein, sodium, potassium and phosphorus.

You can get more detailed advice on nutrition from an endocrinologist or nutritionist. Your treatment is a comprehensive approach and it is very important to rely on more than just medications.

Microalbuminuria is a serious kidney pathology that poses a great danger to humans. Such a disorder can be determined only through laboratory tests of the composition of urine for albumin (a group of protein compounds produced by the liver and excreted in the urine). To conduct a diagnostic examination, the patient must undergo a UIA test.

MAU analysis is a diagnostic study that allows one to determine the quantitative and qualitative composition of the albumin protein in the biological fluid of the human body. The presence of this substance in urine indicates a serious pathology. According to doctors, thanks to this analysis it is possible to identify the initial symptoms of kidney and vascular diseases in the early stages, which, in turn, gives hope for saving the lives of patients in especially serious cases.

The disease is characterized by five levels of severity:

1. In the initial stage of the pathological change, the presence of microalbumin in the urine does not manifest itself symptomatically.
2. The second stage is also asymptomatic, the amount of albumin in the urine does not exceed the norm, although the pathology continues to develop.
3. The third stage is characterized by a pre-nephrotic state. At this level of the disease, it is possible to determine the presence of albumin in urine using the MAU test. To do this, you need to donate urine for diagnosis. In some cases, doctors prescribe additional procedures for diagnostic testing aimed at assessing the functionality of the kidney glomeruli.
4. The stage of nephrosis is characterized by sharp jumps in the patient’s blood pressure, as well as swelling of the face and legs. In urine analysis, signs of proteinuria, erythrocyturia, creatinine and urea are clearly visible.
5. The final stage is defined as advanced renal failure. During this period, the patient is characterized by frequent attacks of hypertension, swelling of the face and legs practically does not subside, urine analysis shows the presence of protein, blood cells, urea particles and creatinine in the absence of sugar.

The listed levels of disease are experienced by diabetics. If the symptoms of the pathology are not responded to in a timely manner, in most cases the patient falls into a diabetic coma and may die.

Factors provoking the anomaly and risk group

Provocateurs for increasing albumin:

• increased physical activity;
• eating predominantly protein foods;
• type of race;
• territorial features of residence;
• pathological processes in the body.

Due to the listed factors, analysis for UIA is not always guaranteed to show a 100% result. Therefore, the study is carried out taking into account all the physiological characteristics and lifestyle of the patient for 3 months with a total number of diagnostic procedures up to 6 times.

Attention! According to statistics, as a result of the study, the presence of increased levels of albumin in the urine is detected in 10-15% of 100 patients.

The risk group includes:

• overweight people;
• patients with impaired biological response of the body to insulin;
• smokers, alcoholics, drug addicts;
• patients with impaired functioning of the heart muscle;
• elderly people.

Patients who have the following disorders know what UIA is:

• diabetes mellitus 2 degrees;
• diabetes mellitus of 1 degree, discovered more than 5 years ago;
• disorders of the cardiovascular system, accompanied by swelling of soft tissues;
• lupus erythematosus;
• pathological changes in renal structures;
• disturbance of protein metabolism in the kidneys.

If microalbuminuria is detected in the analysis, the patient must be carefully examined to identify the causes of the pathology. Initially, the performance of the kidneys and heart is examined, then the level of glucose and cholesterol in the blood is determined. Based on the test results obtained, treatment is prescribed.

Preparing for the study and passing the analysis

Before taking a urine test for UIA, you need to properly prepare:

1. The day before the diagnostic test, it is forbidden to eat fatty foods and foods containing concentrated dyes (beets, carrots, blueberries).
2. The use of medications is discontinued, as this may distort the results by lowering the level of albumin in the body.
3. Alcohol consumption is prohibited as it significantly increases the protein content.
4. Women are allowed to take the test provided they do not menstruate during the study period.
5. Before taking the test, it is necessary to carry out hygienic treatment of the genitals.

Rules for collecting a general urine test (UCA):

The duration of the procedure is one day, during which urine is collected in a separate container. For the study, morning or daily urine is required, the first portion is drained into the toilet. Further:

1. Daily urine is collected in a clean, dry container, which is stored in a place inaccessible to light at a temperature of +4-8 degrees.
2. When submitting daily urine, morning urine is not required to be collected. It is necessary to mix all the biological fluid collected during the day and pour it into a separate 100 ml container, which is sent to the laboratory as soon as possible.
3. It is necessary to remember the time of delivery of morning urine.
4. When submitting an analysis to the laboratory, you must indicate the exact amount of urine exited from the body per day, as well as your height and weight.
5. In laboratory conditions, urine is examined and indicators are deciphered. After this, the doctor assesses the situation and prescribes treatment.

Diagnostic indicators for diabetic nephropathy:

The norm for microalbuminurin in the urine of an adult is 30 mg per day; albumin should not be present in the urine of a child. However, due to certain factors, this figure may increase slightly, which is not a serious violation. An indicator exceeding 300 mg per day indicates significant damage to the renal structures.

Treatment

If a pathology is detected, the patient is prescribed complex treatment: drugs are prescribed that lower blood pressure, albumin and cholesterol levels. If there is glucose in the urine, insulin is indicated.

To normalize albumin in urine, the following medical recommendations must be followed:

• closely monitor your blood sugar levels;
• prevent infection with infectious diseases;
• monitor blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure levels;
• minimize the consumption of protein and carbohydrate-containing foods;
• drink enough fluid (at least 2 liters per day);
• get rid of bad habits.

If treatment does not have the desired effect, a kidney transplant may be required. However, you should not self-medicate and try to decipher the results of UIA tests, as this is done in a laboratory using special equipment. It should also be remembered that to prevent serious pathology, it is necessary to undergo regular medical examinations with a urine diagnostic procedure.

To live a full life, be active and feel great, a person needs health. Therefore, each patient should carefully monitor the condition of his body and, if any disorder develops, immediately contact a doctor. For the timely detection of pathologies, there are various diagnostic methods, one of which is a urine test for UIA.

With the help of such a test, the doctor can detect serious kidney disease at the earliest stage of its development. This diagnostic technique is not used in all cases, but only to determine a small number of diseases of the cardiovascular tract, endocrine system and kidneys. Today, together with you, we will try to find out what UIA analysis is and why it is necessary. And finally, we’ll find out how the data from such a survey is deciphered.

What it is?

The abbreviation MAU itself is an abbreviation for a complex and long medical term - microalbuminuria. It means a significant increase in the content of albumin protein in the fluid excreted by a person. It turns out that the main task of the UIA urine test is to measure the level of albumin in the patient’s urine.

Everyone knows that our body consists of a large number of different protein substances. Albumin also, in its structural structure, belongs to these biological compounds. The molecules of this protein are one of the many components of the blood, so they are normally found in the bloodstream.

An increased content of albumin in secretions is characteristic of pathologies associated with disruption of the main urinary organs - the kidneys. In the body of a healthy person, protein compounds are retained by the renal filtration system, although during laboratory diagnostics of urine they are often detected in a trace residue. Albumin molecules cannot pass through the kidney tubules because they are too large. Negative charge also prevents the penetration of these proteins into urine, as well as their further reabsorption in the renal tubular system.

A urine test for UIA allows you to determine the concentration of albumin in the excreted fluid. The release of these compounds from urine increases as a result of infectious and inflammatory damage to the tubules and glomeruli of the filtering organs, and changes in the charge selectivity of these proteins. The largest number of albumin molecules are released from the body during diseases of the nephron (glomerulus) of the kidney. It increases with such serious disorders as vascular atherosclerosis, dysfunction of filtering organs, as well as with diabetes mellitus.

Important! If the level of albumin protein in the discharge exceeds normal levels, this phenomenon is regarded as the initial stage of the development of vascular pathologies. Even in the case of a slight deviation, the patient is recommended to visit a specialist for a more thorough diagnosis and timely elimination of this problem.

UIA study - normal indicators

An increased content of albumin proteins in the patient’s urine is considered a pathological sign. But such a deviation should not always be associated with the onset of the development of a serious illness.

In all healthy people, a small concentration of microalbumin is detected in the urine. Normally, the smallest fractions of this protein penetrate the filtration barrier of the kidneys, so a so-called “trace” of these compounds is often found in the excreted fluid. But large molecules of such a substance can enter urine only through damaged tubules or nephrons of the kidney.

A positive UIA urine test result in a child always indicates the presence of a certain disease in the baby’s body. Normally, there should be virtually no albumin in the excreted fluid of children. For adult men and women, there are certain indicators of microalbuminuria, the values ​​of which should not increase. The following figures indicate the normal functioning of the urinary channel:

• Albumin - its concentration in urine is normally 25-30 mg per day. If this protein in the sediment exceeds the permissible levels, the patient has microalbuminuria. The detection of 300-350 mg of protein compounds in daily urine indicates the development of proteinuria.
• Microalbumin - this substance is detected in a portion of urine taken from the patient once - that is, during one urination. Its normal value is in the range of 15-20 mg/l.
• The ratio of albumin to creatinine is determined in a random and one-time portion of the excreted fluid. The norm of this proportion for representatives of both sexes is different: for men it is up to 3.4-3.5; in women – up to 2.4-2.5. An increase in this indicator is usually observed when the patient develops symptoms of nephropathy.

Why does the level of albumin in secretions increase?

In a healthy patient, a urine test for UIA should not show a result exceeding generally established standards. But the doctor may consider the data of such a study unreliable if during the diagnosis the person’s condition was influenced by unfavorable factors. Specific conditions in which the body’s usual balance is disrupted can change albumin levels in urine. They can be caused by the patient’s dietary habits, lifestyle and activities. The physiological causes of microalbuminuria are considered to be:

• Excessively large body weight.
• Psychological overload and the negative impact of stress.
• Constant consumption of foods enriched with protein substances (for example, protein shakes for men involved in strength sports - bodybuilding, weightlifting).
• The use of certain groups of medications: corticosteroids, antibacterial drugs, drugs with antifungal action.
• Intoxication of the body and severe dehydration.
• Increased temperature during fever.
• Too hard work.
• Infectious pathologies localized in the urinary tract.

These are natural factors that cause significant microalbuminuria in the urine. Their effect on the body causes a temporary change that disappears after a couple of days.

Pathological factors

A stable increase in the values ​​of this protein in secretions above the norm indicates pathological changes occurring in the human body. The following ailments may be the cause of this disorder:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Amyloidosis.
• Diabetic and hypertensive form of nephropathy.
• Purulent damage to the kidney tissue - pyelonephritis.
• Sarcoidosis.
• The presence of neoplasms of malignant and benign nature.
• Damage to nephrons and tubules of filtering organs by radiation.
• Complicated pregnancy with the development of nephropathy.
• Polycystic kidney disease.
• Glomerulonephritis.

Attention! The concentration of microalbumin in UIA urine analysis increases mainly in elderly patients. With this disorder, the risk group includes diabetics, as well as people suffering from atherosclerosis and other severe pathologies of the cardiovascular tract and kidneys.

We submit urine for testing correctly

How to take a UIA urine test? Much depends on the correctness of the patient’s actions when collecting secretions for this diagnosis. As with other examinations, urine taken to determine microalbumin must be placed in a sterile container. Before collecting the secreted fluid, a person must ensure the hygiene of his genitals and, if necessary, wash himself thoroughly. Women during menstruation are prohibited from donating urine for UIA testing.

Collection of secretions for such diagnostics should be carried out according to the following plan:

• Determine the concentration of albumin in urine collected during the day (24 hours). This procedure usually begins at 8 a.m. on the first day and ends at 8 a.m. on the second.
• A urine test for UIA sometimes requires sampling an average portion of the excreted fluid. This means that you first need to urinate in the toilet, then fill the jar with a small amount of urine (not to the brim, about 50-60 ml).
• If it is collected for research, then the entire volume of secretions is placed in a common container (necessarily sterilized). Keep this biomaterial in a dark and fairly cool place.
• All urine excreted per day by the patient is measured in milliliters. The results of the calculations are entered in a special column on the form with the direction.
• Then all the biological material is mixed so that the protein substances settled at the bottom of the tank are evenly distributed in it. Up to 80-100 ml of liquid necessary for the MAU analysis is poured into a clean container.
• The container prepared directly for research should go to the laboratory as quickly as possible. The remaining secretions can be poured out - they are no longer needed.
• The patient’s body weight and height are also indicated on the referral form, as these indicators affect the amount of albumin in the urine. The specialist takes them into account when performing diagnostics.

Good to know! Albumin levels in urine may decrease slightly at night. At this time of day, a person is in a horizontal position, and his blood pressure decreases somewhat. Race also affects this indicator - in people with dark skin, a urine test will show a higher result.

Evaluation of the data obtained

During this study, the doctor receives two main indicators at once - the daily amount of microalbumin in the secretions and the proportional ratio of protein albumin to creatinine. Sometimes, when performing an MAU analysis, they also use such a specific standard as the rate of albumin excretion. All these values ​​​​indicate the level of microalbuminuria, which manifests itself in three possible conditions of the patient. They are presented more clearly in table form.

If, when deciphering the results of the UIA analysis, a normal concentration of protein components was found in the urine, it means that the patient’s health is satisfactory and he has nothing to worry about. The presence of slight microalbuminuria may indicate a predisposition of the person being studied to the development of hypertension or diabetes mellitus. Such a patient should be monitored more closely to exclude possible progression of such a disorder.

Sometimes a slight increase in MAU levels is observed in diabetics and hypertensive patients. After detecting this deviation, the doctor will prescribe the patient the appropriate treatment necessary to normalize blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels. With the help of such measures, the likelihood of patient death is reduced by 50%.

When the interpretation of the analysis showed the presence of severe macroalbuminuria, a set of therapeutic measures is prescribed urgently. A number of examinations are also carried out, which includes determining the concentration of “heavy” protein compounds in urine and determining the type of proteinuria. This result often indicates serious damage to the kidney tissue.

A urine test for albumin should be performed at least once every 3-4 months, maximum once every six months. This diagnostic method is especially indicative for diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and kidney diseases. With its help, the doctor can get an overall picture of the progression of the pathology and evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen therapeutic tactics.

The examinations prescribed by the doctor must be completed within strictly established periods. Determining the MAU indicator allows you to identify the presence of the disease and take timely measures to eliminate it. The sooner you seek help, the easier the treatment process will be.

Microalbuminuria is a serious disorder that poses a fatal threat to humans in the later stages of progression. Such a disorder can only be determined by laboratory testing of urine for albumin. This substance is present in human blood, so its appearance in biological fluid does not bode well.

What is microalbuminuria, how can it be dangerous for the patient’s health, and how to collect urine to test for the presence of albumin? Let's take it in order.

What is UIA?

MAU or microalbuminuria is the presence of albumin in biological fluid. It indicates the presence of various (most often renal) pathologies, and can occur in 5 degrees of severity.

1. At the first stage, microalbumin is practically not detectable in the urine. It is completely asymptomatic, since the disease is just beginning to develop.
2. Initial phase of development. The patient continues to experience dangerous pathological changes, but the level of albumin in the biological fluid does not exceed standard values.
3. The third phase is pre-nephrotic. At this stage, the disease can already be detected by performing a urine test for UIA. If necessary, other diagnostic procedures are prescribed aimed at assessing the functions of the renal filtration glomeruli.
4. Nephrosis phase. The patient suffers from arterial hypertension and swelling of the limbs and face. In clinical analysis, erythrocyturia, the appearance of creatinine and urea are clearly visible.
5. Development of renal failure. The patient suffers from frequent attacks of arterial hypertension, his swelling practically does not go away, the urine analysis contains protein, blood cells, particles of urea and creatinine. There is no sugar.

A patient with diabetes mellitus goes through all these stages of microalbuminuria. If you do not respond to dangerous symptoms in a timely manner, then, in addition to diabetic nephrosis, the patient risks falling into a diabetic coma, and this already poses a direct threat to his life.

Optimal performance and serious deviations

Albumin in urine can be detected in several categories of patients, namely:

• diabetics;
• people suffering from kidney pathologies;
• patients with atherosclerotic heart disease;
• cores.

The level of microalbumin in human urine depends on many factors. If at least one of them occurs, the level of the substance may rise sharply. These factors are:

• excessive physical activity;
• abuse of protein foods;
• lack of fluid in the body, dehydration;
• fever;
• inflammatory processes occurring in the organs of the urinary system;
• smoking;
• hypertrophic processes in the myocardium;
• kidney inflammation;
• sharp

The daily norm of MAU in the urine of any person, regardless of his age, should not exceed 30 mg. If these indicators were exceeded, even if slightly, this should be the basis for a more thorough examination of the patient. So, often such deviations indicate the development of nephropathy, which can develop into a more serious problem.

If the norm of albumin in the urine was exceeded 10 times, and the current daily dose is 300 mg, this indicates pathological and very life-threatening kidney damage.

What does urine analysis for UIA show and when is it necessary?

First, you need to figure out what kind of urine test for UIA this is. Such a clinical study is performed only if there are certain indications, which we will consider a little later. Using such a test, the laboratory technician calculates the amount of albumin, and also detects (or does not detect) substances that are not observed in healthy people - protein, sugar, red blood cells, etc.

UIA analysis helps determine the presence of:

• diabetes mellitus;
• sarcoidosis;
• serious disorders of the cardiovascular system;
• arterial hypertension;
• allergies to fructose.

However, the most common reason for increased microalbumin in urine is diabetes mellitus. An analysis for the detection of this substance in urine is necessary if the patient:

• complains of frequent or constant pain in the chest area;
• feels severe discomfort in the left side of the chest, or even the entire torso;
• suffers from frequent attacks of hypertension;
• feels general weakness, lethargy, fatigue.

In later stages, the patient may exhibit obvious symptoms of a stroke. The consequences of the disease can be very dangerous, so if you experience frequent dizziness, syncope, attacks of nausea and other symptoms, you should definitely consult a doctor.

What is the correct approach to collecting urine for analysis?

A urine test for microalbuminuria can be prescribed by an endocrinologist, internist, urologist or cardiologist. In children, a family doctor or pediatrician may refer you for such a test. If the presence of albumin in urine is detected in a patient, then before taking any action, he must be further examined. Additional diagnostic procedures will help to establish the cause of the ailment, and only then begin to eliminate it.

How to take a urine test for microalbuminuria? This is important to know in order to obtain true results from a clinical study of biological fluid. Urine collection depends on the purpose for which it is carried out.

Thus, urine for MAU is collected 24 hours before the test to determine the presence of salts. To prevent various substances or particles from getting into the sample, purchase a special plastic container for collecting urine. Next do the following:

• pour 200-250 ml of collected urine into a container;
• give the container for examination;
• wait for the results, and if necessary, re-collect the biological fluid.

How to collect a urine test for UIA if you suspect the development of diabetes? It is necessary to collect daily urine, after which it should be placed in a cold place. The next day, pour 100 ml of liquid into a plastic container, mixing it with fresh urine. Cover the container with a lid, making sure it seals the container tightly.

When sending a container of biological fluid for analysis, be sure to indicate the necessary data: age, weight, date of urine collection. If necessary, you can indicate the specialist who will interpret the results, as well as your date of birth.

As for what the ratio of albumin to creatinine in urine should be, the daily norm should be as follows:

• albumin – less than 30 mg;
• creatinine – no more than 3 mg.

Exceeding these standards indicates serious malfunctions in the body. If such anomalies continue for 3 months or more, they often indicate chronic kidney disease.

To top off all of the above, it should be noted that serious pathology can be prevented only by regularly undergoing preventive clinical tests of urine. Under other circumstances, it may not be possible to correct the situation.

Human health is the most important condition for a full life. But when problems occur in the body, early diagnostic tests can prevent diseases or their complications. A urine test for UIA is effective. What kind of procedure is it, what are the indications for its implementation, and interpretation of the results are the main aspects of the study.

This laboratory examination is widely carried out by international laboratories, during which the percentage of albumin content is determined - a protein in the body that is produced by the liver and excreted in the urine. Healthy kidneys retain albumin, only a small amount is found in urine. Any change to a smaller or larger direction indicates a violation. What is UIA? - high levels of albumin are a sign of pathological diseases of the kidneys, heart and blood vessels.

A special analysis is carried out for early diagnosis of diseases. MAU analysis is important for diagnosing and monitoring the condition of diabetic nephropathy. An increase in albumin levels indicates complications of the disease.

Sometimes the protein value in urine changes due to natural processes.

Natural causes

• Hypothermia of the body (swimming in cold water, staying in the cold).
• Overheating of the body (hot conditions).
• Stress, mental tension and disorders.
• Drinking large volumes of liquid (both drinking and food, for example, watermelon).
• Smoking (especially excessive smoking).
• Menstruation period in women.
• Increased intensity physical activity.
• In women, albumosis is detected after sexual intercourse.

These factors can provoke a temporary increase in albumin in the urine, and when these causes are eliminated, the indicator returns to normal.

Pathological causes

Increased protein due to infectious and non-infectious diseases.

• Acute pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis.
• Hypertensive abnormalities.
• Nephrotic syndrome, nephrosis.
• Sarcoidosis.
• Heart failure.
• Atherosclerosis.
• Alcoholism and smoking.
• Pregnancy gestosis.
• Poisoning with medications, salts of heavy metals.

How to get tested for UIA

Compliance with the rules for preparing and submitting urine guarantees an accurate examination result.

1. The day before the test, exclude brightly colored foods from your diet that affect the color of your urine.
2. Women should use a cotton swab to cover the vaginal opening. You cannot collect biomaterial during menstruation.
3. Hygiene procedures should be carried out first to prevent the entry of microorganisms that could change the outcome.
4. The most reliable result is shown by morning urine, but another time is possible if 4 hours have passed since the previous urination. Some collect the entire day's urine to perform a UIA test.
5. The container for the material must be sterile (to do this, treat it with alcohol) or it is better to purchase a special container for urine.
6. The test should be taken on the day the material is collected.

Attention! If feces got into the container, the patient was taking medications, then the results will be unreliable.

Indicator norm

Every person has a small amount of the substance in their urine. The kidney tubules absorb albumin, but when they are damaged, large amounts of protein are released.

Deviations of indicators are considered if large albumin molecules are found in the urine during the study. So, even minor deviations in children’s indicators are a sign of the presence of pathology.

The permissible amount of the substance in the urinary sediment of a healthy person per day is 30 mg. An increase indicates microalbuminuria; in the case of an increase in protein content to 300 mg, we are talking about proteinuria.

A normal urine sample can contain up to 20 mg of protein per liter. The norm for women is up to 2.5, and for men up to 3.5 mg/mmol in relation to creatinine.

What affects the MAU indicator

There are many factors that increase protein levels in the body. The most common are:

• Race.
• Climatic conditions and other features of the area.
• Eating plenty of protein.
• Temperature increase.
• Excess weight.
• Diseases.

An accurate diagnosis is made within 3 months with regular urine tests for Mau, which must be repeated 3 to 6 times.

Important! There are conditions for performing the test: the patient does not have an infection and has not experienced physical stress before the procedure.

Appointment fits in case:

• When diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The UIA test is taken every six months.
• The duration of type 1 diabetes is more than 5 years. This analysis is carried out every 6 months.
• Diabetes mellitus in children with repeated decompensations.
• Nephropathy in pregnant women.
• For lupus erythematosus.
• Amyloidosis, kidney damage, glomerulonephritis.

Stages of nephropathy

Impaired kidney function occurs in stages that are characterized by certain features.

1. Initial manifestations

Analysis for MAU shows the presence of microalbumin. There are no external symptoms.

2. Pre-nephrotic changes

The patient experiences fluctuations in blood pressure, the kidneys filter fluid slowly, and in urine the protein concentration level is 30 - 300 MHz/day.

3. Nephrotic changes

The patient’s kidneys reduce their filtration capacity, resulting in edema, increased blood pressure, proteinuria, and microhematuria. Sometimes urea and creatinine levels increase.

4. Uremia

Blood pressure reaches high levels that cannot be treated. Edema, hematuria and proteinuria appear. In the analysis, the number of red blood cells, creatinine, and urea increases. With heart pathology, the patient experiences chest pain, sometimes on the left side.

If, when analyzing for UIA, the norm is too high, you should adhere to proper nutrition and undergo regular examinations by specialists who will prescribe restorative and corrective medications. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more effective therapeutic measures are.