Albumin-like material in urine.

Recent studies have demonstrated the presence, in both rat and human urine, of a modified form of albumin not detected by conventional antibodies. This modified albumin behaves physicochemically as intact albumin under nondenaturing conditions. We have demonstrated this form of albumin to be disproportionately excreted in microalbuminuric states in diabetes. Quantitation of this modified form of albumin leads to the prediction of the onset of microalbuminuria in diabetic patients on average 3 to 4 years earlier than when measured by conventional immunoassays.