Albumin Excretion as a Measure of Glomerular Dysfunction in Children

Abstract

The urine albumin/creatinine concentration ratio (U_A/U_C) and the albumin excretion rate per unit weight (U_AV/Wt) have been compared with the theoretically ideal parameter for measuring glomerular damage, clearance of albumin/clearance of creatinine (C_A/C_C), using a simple sensitive immunochemical technique for albumin. It is shown that U_A/U_C on random urine specimens can be as satisfactorily used to predict C_A/C_C as U_AV/Wt. Normal data over a wide range of body size of this simple parameter are presented; higher values in the newborn reflect increased permeability of the neonatal glomerulus.