Insights into the Relationship Between Hypertension and Albuminuria

Albuminuria is the increased excretion of the serum protein albumin into the urine. Albuminuria is classically seen as an important diagnostic marker of declining kidney function, however, more recently albuminuria has also been implicated as a marker for cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease indicating an important link between processes governing both cardiovascular and renal function. This review will discuss i) a common mechanism for albuminuria that accounts for albuminuria seen in hypertension and other albuminuric states and ii) possible linking factors between albuminuria, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Keywords: Albumin, albuminuria, angiotensin II, cardiovascular disease, degradation pathway, hypertension, microalbuminuria, renin-angiotensin system, transforming growth factor-β1