Albumin is a protein that is naturally found in your blood. Protein helps to build muscle, fight infection, and repair damaged tissue, but you don’t want albumin in your urine. If your kidneys are healthy, they will keep albumin confined to your blood and not allow it to leak into your urine. 

Albumin in your urine, especially at high levels, indicates that your kidneys are not working properly. Thus, albuminuria is the condition of having too much albumin in your urine and is usually an early sign of kidney disease.* 

How much albumin is too much?

A small amount of albumin, less than 30 mg/g, in your urine is not necessarily a cause for concern. An amount greater than 30 mg/g may indicate kidney disease, even if your glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is above 60.

How will I know if there is albumin in my urine?

The presence of albumin may make your urine somewhat frothy. A simple urine test conducted at your doctor’s office is enough to detect the amount of albumin present. Only about two tablespoons of urine are necessary to do the test. Generally, a quick dipstick test will be performed at the office to determine the presence of albumin. 

A more complex test may be conducted by a lab to determine the measurement of the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). The ACR urine test will require you to collect your urine output for 24 hours. 

If I have albuminuria, does that mean I have kidney disease?

There are a variety of reasons why your kidney might be under stress and not working up to par, but kidney disease is the most common one. If your urine shows more than a trace of albumin, your doctor will order further tests to help make a diagnosis. 

These could include:

• More urine albumin tests (three positive results over three months indicate kidney disease)
• Blood tests (to establish how well your kidneys are working)
• Imaging tests (ultrasound or CT scan)
• Kidney biopsy (to assess the extent of the damage) 

Healthcare providers regularly test people for albuminuria as part of routine medical exams, and they will closely monitor urine albumin in people with kidney disease.

Is albuminuria treatable?

Yes. Since albuminuria is a symptom of having compromised kidneys, treatment of albuminuria is much the same as treatment for kidney disease. What lowers your urine albumin level may lower your risk of kidney disease progression. 

People with diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, or a family history of kidney failure are at high risk for kidney disease, and therefore albuminuria. Treating these underlying conditions can help manage all of the above. 

Common treatments include:

• Medication (to control diabetes and lower blood pressure)
• Diet (low sodium, the right types and amounts of protein, etc.)
• Lifestyle changes (exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking).

People aged 65 years or older and people of certain ethnic groups (African American, Hispanic, Asian, or Native American) are also at high risk for kidney disease, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

*National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2020, Nov. 24). Albuminuria: Albumin in the Urine. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/tests-diagnosis/albuminuria-albumin-urine