Microalbuminuria in Angiographically Documented Coronary Heart Disease in Non Diabetic and Normotensive Individuals

Abstract

Background:  Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most prevalent and important cause of death in developed nations. The incidence of this disease has also increased in our country during the last few years. This occurs due to atherosclerotic narrowing of coronary arteries, mainly because of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, physical inactivity and cigarette smoking. CHD manifests as stable angina (SA), unstable angina (UA) and myocardial infarction (MI). Inspite of the curtailment of these traditional risk factors the disease has not been eliminated from the globe so far. Recent research in the developed countries is focusing now to identify new biomarkers associated with CHD. Microalbuminuria (MA) has implications on the development of CHD and it is emerging as a new risk factor of this disease.

Objectives:  To compare the levels of microalbuminuria in CHD patients and control individuals with aim to evaluate its association with CHD.

Study Design:  A case control analytical study conducted at Army Medical College and Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology Rawalpindi.

Material and Methods:  Thirty controls (groups A) and fifty CHD patients (group B) included in this study were non diabetic and non hypertensive. Microalbuminuria was determined by immunoturbedimeteric method. Serum glucose, choles-terol, triacylglycerol and urea were measured by enzymatic method. Serum creatinine was measured by kinetic colorimeteric method.

Results:  Microalbuminuria, cholesterol and triacylglycerol of group B were compared with group A. A significanct diffe-rence was found with p value < 0.05.

Conclusion:  Microalbuminuria may have an association with coronary heart disease.

Key Words:  Coronary heart disease (CHD), stable angina (SA), unstable angina (UA), myocardial infarction (MI), Micro-albuminuria (MA)