ualbumin

ualbumin is not a standard term in biochemistry or medicine. It most often appears as a typographical variant of albumin or as an abbreviation related to urinary albumin (sometimes written U-albumin). In scientific and clinical literature, albumin refers to a family of highly soluble proteins, while urinary albumin refers to the amount of albumin excreted in the urine. The following overview uses this distinction where relevant.

Albumins are the most abundant soluble proteins in blood plasma. In humans, serum albumin is synthesized mainly by the liver and consists of a single polypeptide chain of about 585 amino acids, with a molecular weight of approximately 66.5 kilodaltons. Albumin binds and transports a wide range of endogenous and exogenous compounds, including fatty acids, bilirubin, calcium, hormones, and many drugs. It also helps maintain colloid osmotic pressure, contributing to the distribution of body fluids between blood vessels and tissues. Albumin is widely used in clinical practice as a standard reference protein and as a marker in various diagnostic tests.

Urinary albumin refers to the albumin that passes into the urine and is used as an indicator of kidney function. Small amounts of albumin may be detected in normal urine; elevated levels indicate increased glomerular permeability or tubular dysfunction. Urinary albumin is commonly reported as an albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) or as a concentration. Microalbuminuria (approximately 30–300 mg of albumin per day) and macroalbuminuria (>300 mg/day) are thresholds used to assess risk of kidney disease, particularly in diabetes and hypertension. Treatments that reduce albuminuria and protect kidney function include blood pressure control and renin–angiotensin system blockers.