Albuminuria is used as a marker of kidney disease progression, but whether it has a role in the pathogenesis of kidney disease and the reasons for its association with cardiovascular disease are unclear. In this Review, Rabelink and de Zeeuw propose that degradation of the glycocalyx leads to albuminuria and that the filtered protein contributes to kidney disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, they discuss how systemic degradation of the gylcocalyx can lead to cardiovascular disease, providing an explanation for the association between these diseases and albuminuria.
- Ton J. Rabelink
- Dick de Zeeuw
