Urinary α1‐microglobulin as an indicator protein of renal tubular dysfunction caused by environmental cadmium exposure

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Abstract
An epidemiologic investigation was carried out to clarify the significance of the urinary excretion of α1-microglobulin (α1-MG) in people aged 50 years and over living in a Cd-polluted area in Japan. Approximately 80% of the population participated in the health examination. The urinary and serum levels and the relative clearance of α1-MG to creatinine clearance were compared with various parameters (age, urinary β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), total protein, Cd, Cu and Zn, serum β2-MG, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen and relative clearances of α1-MG, β2-MG, inorganic phosphate and uric acid). It was found that the urinary excretion of α1-MG is closely associated with the urinary Cd and Cu and with the indices of renal dysfunction listed above. These results suggest that the urinary α1-MG level masrkedly reflects a degree of proximal tubular dysfunction and that it may be useful as one of the screening measures for proximal tubular dysfuction caused by environmental Cd exposure.