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Microalbuminuria in nondiabetic and nonhypertensive systolic heart failure patients

Estêvão L Figueiredo1, Fabiana V G Leão, Lílian V Oliveira

  • 1Programa de Pós-graduação em Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. estevao@cardiol.br

Congestive Heart Failure (Greenwich, Conn.)
|November 6, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Microalbuminuria, a marker of kidney and heart issues, is common in systolic heart failure patients without diabetes or hypertension. This finding highlights potential early kidney damage in these individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Microalbuminuria, defined as an albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) of 30-300 µg/mg, is linked to increased cardiovascular risk.
  • Its prevalence in systolic heart failure (SHF) patients without diabetes or hypertension is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the prevalence of microalbuminuria in nondiabetic and nonhypertensive patients with systolic heart failure.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study included 27 SHF patients (NYHA class II-IV, LVEF ≤40%) and 27 healthy controls, all nondiabetic, nonhypertensive, and not on ACE inhibitors.
  • Early-morning midstream urine samples were analyzed for albumin and creatinine to calculate ACR.

Main Results:

  • SHF patients exhibited significantly higher median albumin excretion (39 µg/mL) compared to controls (26 µg/mL).
  • The median ACR was significantly elevated in SHF patients (54 µg/mg) versus controls (24 µg/mg).
  • No significant difference in creatinine excretion was observed between groups.

Conclusions:

  • Microalbuminuria is significantly present in systolic heart failure patients who are nondiabetic and nonhypertensive.
  • This suggests early kidney involvement or a shared pathophysiological pathway in SHF, even without traditional risk factors.

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