Proteinuria in patients with arterial/arteriolar nephrosclerosis.
Controversy exists regarding the level of proteinuria in patients with nephrosclerosis.


METHODS
We retrospectively examined the clinical parameters of 67 patients with the histologic diagnosis of nephrosclerosis defined as arteriolar hyalinization and/or arterial intimal fibrosis in the absence of other findings in an adequate renal biopsy. Biopsies were performed for clinical indications and were submitted to Cedars-Sinai Pathology Department from January 1994 to March 1999.


RESULTS
The mean age and blood pressure (+/- SD) was 60 +/- 17 years, and 139 +/- 19/80 +/- 12 mmHg. Mean serum creatinine was 2.3 +/- 1.3 mg/dl and 24-hour urinary protein excretion was 0.94 +/- 0.73 g, 66% had < or = 1 g/day, 25% had > 1 but < or = 2 g/day, 6% had > 2 g but < 3 g/day and 1 patient had nephrotic range proteinuria. Twelve patients had no history of hypertension. They had a mean blood pressure of 121 +/- 8/76 +/- 8. Their mean serum creatinine was 1.5 +/- 0.6 mg/dl and their mean 24-hour urinary protein excretion was 0.78 +/- 0.43 g.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data do not confirm that of Innes et al. [1993] who reported proteinuria > 1.5 g/day in 40% and nephrotic syndrome in 22% of patients with nephrosclerosis; systemic hypertension may not be a prerequisite for the development of nephrosclerosis.
Pahl
M V
MV
Division of Nephrology, University of California, Orange 92868, USA. mvpahl@uci.edu
Nast
C C
CC
Adler
S G
SG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001160:Arterioles; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009400:Nephrosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D011506:Proteins; D003404:Creatinine