Like all proteins, plasma albumin can undergo glycation to produce glycated albumin. This glycation will change the structure and therefore functionalities of albumin. Because of its accessibility, its high concentration and its half-life the glycation of albumin is greater than that of haemoglobin. Laboratory measurement of glycated albumin is possible. The value of glycated albumin reflects the glycaemic balance over a period of 3 weeks, and shows its interest in cases where the determination of HbA1c is impossible or deficient. It also seems that the glycated albumin has a prognostic interest in the chronic kidney disease patients dialyzed or not. In some patients, the assay of glycated albumin could replace measurement of fructosamines and provide additional information to HbA1c values.
Keywords: HbA1c; fructosamines; glycated albumin; glycation; glycemic control.