Serum and urinary alpha-1 microglobulin levels in renal disease

Serum and urinary levels of α 1 -microglobulin (AM) were measured in healthy volunteers and patients with varying degrees of renal insufficiency (from mild impairment to functionally anephric patients). In all 33 healthy volunteers, 57 chronic renal disease and 22 functionally anephrics were studied. Serum creatinine (sCr) and 24-hour creatinine clearance (CCr) were used to assess renal function. Serum AM (SAM) increased with declining glomerular filtration and correlated well with CCr (r=-0.89, n=90, P<0.001) and sCr (r=0.90, n=112, P<0.001). sAM increased easter than sCr as the filtration function diminished and may be a more sensitive indicator or impairment in renal glomerular filtration