UA (Urine Dipstick)• Use as an initial screen for all patients• Negative to trace proteinuria requires
further testing for microalbuminuria• 1+ or greater proteinuria requires
further testing to quantitate proteinuria• Once a patient has microalbuminuria,
UA (urine dipstick) testing for gross proteinuria may be adequate although yearly testing for albuminuria may have become standard of care
Microalbuminuria
• Spot AM urine: Alb/Cr ratio .03-.3*• Timed urine collection: 20-200µg
albumin/min• 24 hour urine collection: 30-300
mg albumin in 24 hours
*This is the most practical test
Microalbumin TestingFactors that Cause False Positive Test
– poorly controlled diabetes– morbid obesity– acute illness, fever, UTI– pregnancy, menstruation– high protein diet– CHF– hematuria, major stress: surgery or
anesthesia
Incipient Nephropathy
Type 1 Diabetes– 2 out of 3 urine tests + for
microalbuminuria (start screening 5 years after the initial diagnosis)
– presence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy
– 80-90% of type 1 patients with microalbuminuria will progress to DN
Incipient Nephropathy
Type 2 Diabetes– 2 out of 3 urine tests + for
microalbuminuria (start screening at the time of diagnosis of diabetes)
– presence of diabetic retinopathy– 20-30% may have diabetic nephropathy
but not diabetic retinopathy– 25% may have a diagnosis of
nephropathy other than diabetic nephropathy
Macroalbuminuria• Spot AM urine: Alb/Cr ratio greater
than .3• Timed urine collection: greater than
200µg albumin/min• 24 hour urine collection: greater
than 300 mg albumin in 24 hours• If macroalbuminuria is present then
test for gross proteinuria
Gross Proteinuria• Defined as urine protein >500mg/24 hr.• Gold standard test is
– 24 hour urine collection for total protein and creatinine clearance
• Can also test protein/creatinine ratio– measures total mg protein/mg
creatinine– correlates 1:1 with a 24 hr urine in
grams/24 hr – less accurate in ARF, intersitial
nephritis, high degrees of proteinuria
Overt Diabetic Nephropathy
• Gold Standard is biopsy• Diagnosis can be made by clinical
history and exclusion of other renal disease
• Workup includes– Renal ultrasound for size, shape,
abnormalities– 24 hour urine for total protein and
creatinine clearance
Treatment• Lifestyle changes
– Lose weight– Stop smoking– Low salt diet for BP control– Low protein diet?
• Glycemic Control – Benefit in both Type 1 and Type 2
patients– Recommended: HbA1C <7.0%
(some say <6.5%)
Blood Pressure Control• Current ADA recommendations are
for blood pressure <130/80-85 (if nephropathy <125/75)
• Several randomized controlled trials indicate that improved blood pressure control decreases the rate of progression of renal disease in both type 1 and type 2 patients
ACE’s and ARB’s
• Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blocking agents have been shown in animal models and in randomized controlled trials to improve diabetic nephropathy
• Mechanism of action - ACE-inhibitors limit angiotensin II production by blocking angiotensin converting enzyme, ARB-agents block angiotensin II receptors
Case #1
Your first patient is a 25 year old young man with a 5 year history of type 1 diabetes. His urine dipstick is negative for protein. You check a spot AM urine alb/cr ratio which is .019. His blood pressure is 112/66. His HbA1C is 6.9.
Which is (are) true?1. The patient has early or incipient diabetic
nephropathy.
2. The patient should maintain a HbA1C of less than 7 to help protect his kidneys.
3. You should start the patient on an ACE inhibitor to protect his kidneys.
4. All of the above are true.
Patient #2
Your next patient is a 43 year old woman with a six year history of type 2 diabetes. A urine dip shows trace protein and a spot AM urine alb/cr ratio is .039. Her blood pressure is 135/80 and her HbA1C is 6.7.
Which is (are) not true?1. You should check the patient’s serum
creatinine and potassium.2. You should start the patient on an ACE
inhibitor if her K+ and Cr are okay. 3. You should check a 24 hour urine for total
protein and creatinine clearance.4. The patient has overt diabetic
nephropathy and should be referred to a nephrologist.
Case #3Your last patient is a 60 year old with HTN, dyslipidemia and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. A urine dip shows 2+ protein. He has a fever and his HbA1C is 10.3. His blood pressure is 140/88. He is taking HCTZ and glipizide.
Which is (are) true?1. You should get the patient’s diabetes
under better control before rechecking his urine.
2. A fever will not cause proteinuria.3. The patient’s blood pressure is under
good control.4. You should check the patient’s
potassium and creatinine.
Case #3
Three months later with exercise, metformin and enalapril your patient’s HbA1C is now 7.5 and his blood pressure is 135/85. A urine dip now shows 1+ protein.
Which is (are) true?1. You should check a 24 hour urine for
total protein and cr. cl.2. A spot AM urine albumin/creatinine
ratio correlates well with a 24 hour urine for total protein
3. The patient likely already has diabetic nephropathy and should be referred to a nephrologist.
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