Abstract
Objective: Microalbuminuria (MA, albuminuria: 20 - 200 mu g min(-1)) is associated with several cardiovascular risk factors including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The relationship, usually assumed to reflect an increased blood pressure (BP) load on the heart and the kidney. To evaluate this relation between MA and LVH, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was determined in stage 2 hypertensive patients with LVH.
Study Design: Descriptive Case series
Setting and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Mayo Hospital Lahore, from 1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010.
Methodology: Hundred cases of non diabetic patients with stage 2 hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy visiting outdoor and indoor patients of East medical ward Mayo Hospital Lahore were registered. Microalbuminuria was detected using standardized dipstick technique (MICRAL, Roche, USA) and recorded in mg/dL. Left ventricular hypertrophy was determined by measuring LVMI in gram/m 2 using GE Logic pro 500 echocardiography with color Doppler. All this information was collected through a specially designed proforma.
Results: Microalbuminuria was present in 65% of the hypertensive individuals with LVH. When the occurrence of microalbuminuria was analyzed according to the different clinical parameters like age and gender and duration of hypertension, a significant correlation was found with age and duration of hypertension, but no significant relation was found with either gender.
Conclusion: There is high frequency of microalbuminuria in hypertensive individuals with left ventricular hypertrophy. This is associated with advanced age, duration of hypertension and degree of left ventricular hypertrophy. So microalbuminuria is an important predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and should be checked routinely in all hypertensive patients, regardless of the presence of diabetes.