title: [Microalbuminuria and diabetic retinopathy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the prevalence of microalbuminuria and its association with more severe diabetic retinopathy in a group of insulin-dependent diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the period of January 1998 to December 2005 we examined 360 insulin-dependent diabetic patients with at least five years of evolution. We evaluated the presence of microalbuminuria by immunoanalysis. Patients were evaluated by direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy and classified as non-retinopathy, non-proliferative, severe non-proliferative/proliferative, or macular edema.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, 24.1% of patients had microalbuminuria. Most of the patients with microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria were male and had a longer history of diabetes. Microalbuminuria was associated with more severe diabetic retinopathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All patients with insulin-dependent diabetes of at least five years' evolution should undergo an evaluation of renal function including tests for microalbuminuria. In the presence of microalbuminuria an ophthalmologic follow-up may be particularly important.
authors.affiliation: Hospital General, Medina del Campo, Valladolid, España. vasensio@hmdc.sacyl.es
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Asensio-Sánchez
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Delgado
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Herrero
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cabo-Vaquera
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Loygorri
mesh_terms: D000419:Albuminuria / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence