MICROALBUMINURIA IN PATIENTS OF ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Microalbuminuria has evolved from being a feature of impaired renal function in diabetic nephropathy to an indicator of generalized endothelial dysfunction and is gaining increasing recognition as a risk factor for ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the occurrence of microalbuminuria in patients of acute ischemic stroke and to determine the relationship between microalbuminuria and the severity of stroke.

PARTICIPANTS: 68 patients of acute ischemic stroke (confirmed by CT/MRI) aged 18 years or more, belonging to both genders, excluding patients with nephropathy, UTI, fever, or systemic infections.68 age and sex-matched healthy controls.

STUDY DESIGN: A Hospital-based observational study.

METHODS: Stroke severity was assessed with modified National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(mNIHSS). Morning urine sample was collected from cases and controls and urine albumin was measured by immunofluorescence method. Appropriate statistical analysis was done using SPSS v21.

RESULTS: Microalbuminuria was present in 57.4% cases and 17.6% controls(p-value 0.0001).Among cases, those with MA had a mean mNIHSS score of 11.08, and those without MA had a mean mNIHSS score of 7.83 (p-value 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute ischemic stroke were 3.26 times more likely to have microalbuminuria and statistical analysis revealed a significant difference(p-value 0.0001). Patients of acute ischemic stroke with microalbuminuria had more severe strokes than those without microalbuminuria.

IMPLICATIONS: Microalbuminuria has a role as a risk factor and as a predictor of severity in acute ischemic stroke.