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What Does A High Microalb/creatine Ratio Indicate?

Posted on Sat, 10 May 2014

Question: Hello. Last September I had a strong and strange feeling like I was going to faint. This feeling scared me so much it launched me into a panic attack. Since then, I have been diagnosed with a panic/anxiety disorder and the great life I had has been nothing short of suffering on a daily basis. Because I am 40 years old, fit, financially secure and have a great family and friends and never had issues with panic before, I found it odd that I would suddenly develop an anxiety disorder so I was convinced it was something physical that was triggering the anxiety. I got a brain MRI which showed 12 non-specific lesions. A follow up for MS proved negative. I was tested (at my own cost of $1200) for Lyme disease, which also came back negative. I am currently on clonazepam (Klonopin) 1.5 mg per day. I suffer dizzy spells, anxiety and anxiety attacks, feeling detached, blurred vision and other vision problems, numb face, tingling like shocks across my scalp and more. My main question today is in regard to the Microalb/Creatine ratio. My psychiatrist ordered the bloodwork but did not know what this was and it was the only thing showing abnormal. It says my ratio is 2.0, which then says is outside normal limits. I googled and this has something to do with the kidneys and possibly autoimmune disorders or other causes. Should I be worried about this? My family doctor saw this result as well I assume and said nothing, but I have found her to not be very thorough in the past. Thank You XXXX

Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (3 hours later)

Brief answer....It is too early to comment on this as this test should be repeated few times more. Detailed answer.... Hello, Thanks for the query. I can understand your anxiety over this issue but the fact is that it is too early to comment on this. A high ratio does give the suspicion of some kidney damage but since your values are just above the normal and moreover there are various conditions which can give a slightly higher values inspite of kidneys being normal. These conditions can be .... Some recent illness Recent heavy exercise in past 24 hour Urine infection Being overweight. Kidneys passing variable amount of albumin at different times. And obviously diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. you must get your test repeated at the interval of 15 days and in case you still find the same result,you can get 24 hour urine tested for microalbumin. A level of 30-300 mg of microalbumin in 24 hour protein would suggest microalbuminaria and would require investigation into the cause. Till then,just relax and if you are not suffering from high blood pressure or diabetes,then chances of any kidney damage looks quite less.Your slightly high value could be just a normal aberration. I hope it helps,however you may revert to me for any further query. Best of luck Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (25 minutes later)

Thank you for your response. So given my other symptoms of vision problems, dizzy spells and these attacks that came out of nowhere, you don't think it could be related to this kidney issue or test result? I had full blood work ups done and this was the only thing that came up so I would like to rule it out from my current problem if I can. All the best

Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (12 minutes later)

Hello, Your symptoms of anxiety attacks or dizzy spells has nothing to do with this test,however your test needs to be repeated to be sure of any kidney ailment. Thanks

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar