title: Transferrin and albumin excretion as a measure of glomerular function.
abstract: Albumin and transferrin are relatively small protein molecules and highly negatively charged. Their levels in urine are a useful indicator of the integrity of membrane barriers of the kidney glomerular capillary wall. The present data shows that the excretion rates of albumin and transferrin and their kinetics of excretions are similar. Thus, their filtration mechanisms at the active site of the kidney membrane pores are similar. Total urinary protein/creatinine or albumin or transferrin/creatinine ratio were found to be linear and highly significant. Their measurement could indicate the degree of impaired glomerular permeability. Also, in the present study, a rapid biochemical method of measurement of the selectivity of proteinuria based on the transferrin/albumin ratios in random samples is reported. This method is particularly useful in the early stages of glomerular basement membrane damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, King Saud University-Abha Branch, College of Medicine, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Fraij
mesh_terms: D000419:Albuminuria / Q000652:urine*; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000652:urine; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007700:Kinetics; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000652:urine; D014168:Transferrin / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014168:Transferrin; D003404:Creatinine