title: Urinary excretion of albumin and retinol binding protein in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: We have measured the urinary excretion of total protein, albumin and retinol binding protein (RBP) in random urine specimens obtained from 40 female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thirty-three of these patients had no clinical evidence of any renal impairment (non-renal SLE); seven had overt renal disease (renal SLE). RBP:creatinine ratios were significantly higher in non-renal SLE patients compared with female controls (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference between urine total protein concentrations, albumin:creatinine or total protein:creatinine ratios in non-renal SLE patients when compared with controls, despite approximately 20% of these patients having elevated excretion of total protein or albumin. All seven renal SLE patients had elevated albumin:creatinine ratios but only four of them had an increased RBP:creatinine ratio. Of 29 non-renal SLE patients who had urinary total protein concentrations below 0.2 g/L, (i.e. approximating to a negative protein dipstick), 14 had increases in either albumin or RBP:creatinine ratios. Only two patients had increases in both. In the absence of clinical evidence of renal disease, increases in urinary albumin or RBP excretion could indicate subclinical nephropathy and measurements may have a role in the early diagnosis and subsequent monitoring of renal disease in SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Salford Royal Hospitals Trust, Hope Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Brammah
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: McMurray
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tieszen
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine*; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D003404:Creatinine