Persistent microalbuminuria in type 1 diabetic subjects in South India

There are only a few reports on the prevalence of microalbuminuria (MAU) in type 1 diabetic subjects in India. This study was done to assess the prevalence of MAU in South Indian diabetic subjects.

MAU was estimated by measuring albumin/creatinine ratio in an early morning urine sample on three occasions using immunoturbidimetry (> 30 microg albumin/mg creatinine) in South Indian patients. Kidney function tests were done in 95 type 1 DM, (M:F, 56:39). Persistent proteinuria was detected in 17 (17.9%) and they were excluded from the study. Further details were taken only in the remaining 78 subjects. Persistent MAU was seen in 22 (28.2%) and other 56 subjects had normoalbuminuria (NAU) (71.8%).

There was no significant difference in the age, duration of DM and the average HbAlc between MAU and NAU. MAU developed at the age of > or = 20 years, even in subjects with onset of diabetes at a younger age. Diabetic retinopathy was present in 3 (13.6%) and ECG abnormalities were seen in one patient with MAU. None of the subjects in NAU group had these abnormalities. Prevalence of MAU increased with increasing duration of diabetes, MAU was present in 3 patients (10.3%) with duration of diabetes < or = 5 years, in five patients (23.8%) with duration of diabetes> 5 to < or = 10 years and in 14 (50%) patients with duration of diabetes > 10 years. Hypertension was present in 5 (22.7%) of MAU and only in one subject with NAU.

It is observed that MAU occurs in type 1 diabetes after the age of 20 years and it is present in a large proportion of the study subjects.