A study on the relationship between microalbuminuria and carotid intima-media thickness in elder patients with essential hypertension

Objective To evaluate the relationship between microalbuminuria(MAU) and carotid intima-media thickness(IMT),and uric acid(UA),serum total cholesterol(TC),LDL-C in elder patients with essential hypertension(EH).Methods 142 patients with EH were divided into two groups according to the MAU level.75 patients were normal albuminuria group,67 patients were MAU group.The IMT and the level of MAU,UA,TC,LDL-C in serum were observed and compared between the two groups.Results The IMT,the incidence of plaque,the level of MAU,concentration of UA、TC、LDL-C in MAU group were higher than those in normal albuminuria group(P0.05).There were positive correlations between The level of MAU and C-IMT,the concentration of UA in MAU group(P0.05).Conclusion The incidence and extent of atherosclerosis is closely related to MAU in elder patients with EH,therefore,the level of MAU may be used as an early significant index for the evaluation of development of renal disease and cardio-cerebro vascular disease in the EH patients.