Abstract

In this study, the presence of microalbuminuria (MA) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in whom no proteinuria was determined by conventional methods, correlations with respiratory parameters and their effect on mortality were investigated. 25 cases with COPD who had been hospitalized due to an acute exacerbation and 25 healthy volunteers matched for age and sex were included in the study. MA measurements, arterial blood gas analysis, and FEV1, FVC measurements were performed in the COPD group at the beginning of hospitalization (admission) and after an average of 14±6 days therapy when they were stable at the time of discharge (discharge). Urinary albumin/creatinine (a/c) ratio which was Ž2.5 mg/mmol, was accepted as MA. MA was detected in 14 (56%) subjects on admission and in 7 (28%) subjects at discharge in the COPD group and in 1 (4%) subject in the control group. There were statistically significant differences among these groups (admission-control p<0.001, discharge-control p=0.023, admission-discharge p=0.016). In COPD group, mean a/c ratio is 3.9±3.8 on admission, 1.7±1.9 at discharge and 0.5±0.5 mg/mmol in the control group. There were statistically significant differences among these groups (admission-control p<0.001, discharge-control p=0.029, admission-discharge p=0.002). In the COPD group there were negative correlations between the MA values on admission and arterial pO2 and O2 saturation (p=0.031, r=-0.433 and p=0.002, r=-0.596 respectively). There were no correlations between the MA values and age, arterial pH, pCO2, FEV1%, FVC % and FEV1/FVC. There were no statistically significant differerences between the subjects with or without MA according to the median survival time. We concluded that, in a serious number of patients with COPD in whom no proteinuria was determined by conventional methods, especially during acut exacerbations, MA could be seen. However, MA was related with hypoxemia but had no effect on mortality.