Is a urine microalbumin level of 35 mg/L severe?
Generally, a urinary microalbumin level of 35 mg/L indicates a mild increase and may not be very serious. If any discomfort occurs, timely medical consultation is recommended. Detailed analysis is as follows:
Urinary microalbumin excretion is normally low. A level between 30-300 mg/L is categorized as microalbuminuria. Elevated urinary microalbumin is an early indicator of kidney damage. Physiological factors such as intense exercise, fever, or high-protein diets may cause a temporary increase in urinary microalbumin. In such cases, urinary microalbumin levels usually return to normal after the triggering factor is removed. For example, following intense exercise, increased metabolic activity may cause temporary changes in kidney filtration function, leading to leakage of microalbumin into the urine.
Pathological factors mainly include diabetic nephropathy and hypertensive kidney disease. Long-term poor glycemic control in diabetic patients can damage the kidney's microvasculature, altering glomerular filtration function and causing increased urinary microalbumin. In hypertensive patients, persistently elevated blood pressure can increase intraglomerular pressure, damaging the kidney's filtration barrier and resulting in protein leakage.
Further examinations are recommended, such as testing blood glucose, blood pressure, and renal function, to determine the underlying cause. If the cause is physiological, normal levels can be restored through rest and dietary adjustments. If pathological, treatment should target the underlying condition, such as controlling blood glucose and blood pressure to delay the progression of kidney disease.