normoalbuminuria
Quick Summary
Normoalbuminuria is a stage in the progression of diabetic nephropathy, a complication of diabetes mellitus that damages the kidneys. It is characterized by normal levels of albumin in the urine and normal blood pressure, but with detectable lesions in the glomeruli, the filtering units of the kidneys.1
Albumin is a protein found in blood plasma that helps maintain fluid balance and acts as a carrier for substances involved in blood clotting. Proteinuria, the presence of protein in urine, is usually indicative of illness or kidney disease. In diabetic nephropathy, increased urinary excretion of albumin is a primary characteristic.2341
The stages of diabetic nephropathy progress from hyperfiltration to normoalbuminuria, then microalbuminuria, overt albuminuria, and finally end-stage renal disease (kidney failure).1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
