[Microalbuminuria. Signification and value].

The term microalbuminuria means a slightly elevated urinary albumin level. It indicates an abnormal passage of plasma albumin into urine through the glomerular filter. Its prognostic significance was first established in diabetics: in insulin-dependent diabetics microalbuminuria predicts a renal disease, while in non-insulin-dependent diabetics it predicts an excessive cardiovascular mortality. Recently, microalbuminuria has been shown to predict cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the general population, especially in elderly subjects. Pathogenetic mechanisms common to both atherosclerosis and renal failure may account for the predictive value of microalbuminuria in the above-mentioned conditions.