Microalbuminuria: a risk factor for vascular and renal complications of hypertension.

The kidneys are not only involved in the development of hypertension, but they are also often damaged if the disease is not controlled. Microalbuminuria occurs early and is easily diagnosed. However, microalbuminuria is not detected on routine Albustix testing, which has a sensitivity limit of 300 mg/L. Urinary albumin excretion, therefore, should be routinely determined by radioimmunoassay or other techniques so that appropriate therapies can be instituted to prevent nephropathy.