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Microalbuminuria is independently associated with deep or infratentorial brain microbleeds in hypertensive adults

Toshitaka Umemura1, Takahiko Kawamura, Toshimasa Sakakibara

  • 1Department of Neurology, Chubu Rosai Hospital, Nagoya, Japan. t.umemura@bg7.so-net.ne.jp

American Journal of Hypertension
|January 13, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Microalbuminuria, a marker of kidney disease, is linked to deep or infratentorial brain microbleeds (BMBs) in hypertensive individuals. This finding highlights a connection between kidney health and specific BMB locations, offering new insights into stroke risk factors.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Nephrology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Brain microbleeds (BMBs) on MRI may indicate ischemic cerebral small-vessel disease and raise hemorrhagic stroke risk.
  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is linked to BMBs in stroke patients, but its association in stroke-free individuals is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between chronic kidney disease markers and the presence and location of BMBs in a stroke-free hypertensive population.

Main Methods:

  • 285 hypertensive, stroke-free outpatients underwent gradient echo T2*-weighted MRI.
  • Urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were measured.
  • Multivariate logistic regression analyzed associations between kidney biomarkers and BMBs, controlling for confounders.

Main Results:

  • BMBs were found in 16.8% of participants.
  • Higher median UACR was observed in patients with deep/infratentorial BMBs versus lobar BMBs.
  • Microalbuminuria (elevated UACR) significantly correlated with deep/infratentorial BMBs (OR: 3.16, P=0.009), independent of confounders.

Conclusions:

  • Microalbuminuria is strongly associated with deep or infratentorial BMBs in hypertensive patients.
  • These findings suggest a link between kidney dysfunction and specific BMB distributions, potentially informing stroke risk assessment.

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