The interest in, and importance of, microalbuminuria is reflected in the exponential increase in the number of publications on the topic over the last few years. We recognised at commissioning of this book in 1993 that we were chasing a rapidly moving target. In persevering with this flood of literature our objective was to temper the enthusiastic discussion of microalbuminuria as a one-dimensional risk factor in diabetes and to broaden the discussion into other areas of general medicine. At the same time, we have tried to put the difficulties surrounding the measurement of microalbuminuria and the treatment of microalbuminuria in diabetes into an appropriate clinical context. We were also encouraged by the knowledge that such a book covering the broadest aspects of microalbuminuria had not previously been written.

Our interest in the subject has been stimulated over the last 15 years by our initially separately developed interests in Manchester and Newcastle, and subsequently by the opportunity to work together in George Alberti's powerhouse in the Department of Medicine, University of Newcastle upon Tyne from 1993 to 1997. The unplanned geographical splitting and conversion for one of us, from a University teaching post to a full-time National Health Service position, has added a touch of excitement regarding communication and ensuring that the manuscript is up to date. Modern technology has not totally alleviated these difficulties.