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Q J Med 2004; 97: 297-301
QJM vol. 97 no. 5 (c) Association of Physicians 2004; all rights reserved.

Urinary albumin excretion: a predictor of glomerular findings in adults with microscopic haematuria

K.S. Eardley1, M.A.S. Ferreira2, A.J. Howie2, P. Gosling3 and G.W. Lipkin1

From the Departments of 1Nephrology and 3Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Birmingham, and 2Department of Pathology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

Received 3 September 2003 and in revised form 10 February 2004

Background: Microscopic haematuria without proteinuria is a common clinical finding. When urological causes are excluded, usual findings on renal biopsy are IgA nephropathy (which can progress to end-stage renal failure) or thin basement membrane nephropathy (which has an excellent prognosis). A non-invasive test to discriminate between the two would be useful.

Aim: To examine the value of measurement of urinary albumin excretion in discriminating glomerular causes of microscopic haematuria in patients without proteinuria on urine dipstick tests.

Design: Single-centre retrospective cross-sectional observational study.

Methods: Adult patients who underwent renal biopsy for microscopic haematuria over a 6-year period from January 1994 were identified. Study entry required normal renal function, no proteinuria detected by dipstick, and urinary albumin excretion <300 mg/24 h. Patients with IgA nephropathy had follow-up for a mean of 58 months after biopsy.

Results: Of 169 patients fulfilling study criteria, 119 (70%) had normoalbuminuria (<30 mg/24 h); 52 (30%) had microalbuminuria (30–299 mg/24 h). Of those with normoalbuminuria, 106 (89%) had thin basement membrane nephropathy or no glomerular abnormality. Thirteen (11%) had IgA nephropathy, and of 12 of these followed-up for a mean 64 months, none developed overt, dipstick-positive proteinuria. In contrast, 24 (48%) of those with microalbuminuria had IgA nephropathy, and of 22 followed-up for a mean 55 months, five developed overt proteinuria.

Discussion: Urinary albumin excretion is an indicator of likely glomerular findings in microscopic haematuria, and may influence whether a renal biopsy is necessary.

Address correspondence to Professor G.W. Lipkin, Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham. e-mail: graham.lipkin{at}uhb.nhs.uk


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