A 55-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus for 8 years has a urine albumin excretion of 120 mg/day. This finding represents which stage of diabetic nephropathy?
- A Macroalbuminuria
- B Microalbuminuria ✓
- C Overt nephropathy
- D End-stage renal disease
Correct answer: B. Microalbuminuria
Explanation
Microalbuminuria (30-300 mg/day) is the earliest clinical marker of diabetic nephropathy and predicts progression to overt proteinuria and renal failure. It is detectable before a decline in glomerular filtration rate. Macroalbuminuria is >300 mg/day, and overt nephropathy involves clinical proteinuria with hypertension.
Reference: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 20th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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