Early detection of microalbuminuria and hypertension in children of very low birthweight.
OBJECTIVE
We retrospectively investigated a cohort of very low birthweight infants (VLBWI) by comparing two methods for assessment of albuminuria: nephelometry (standard) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), measuring urinary immunoreactive and non-immunoreactive albumin to evaluate if the latter is more sensitive in identifying childhood onset of albuminuria and hypertension in VLBWI individuals.


METHODS
Spot urine samples of a total of 109 subjects (5.3 +/- 2.2 years old) who were VLBWI were investigated by HPLC and nephelometry. Twenty-eight subjects were small for gestational age (SGA) and 81 were appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Blood Pressure (BP) was also recorded.


RESULTS
Twelve children (11%) with albuminuria 20 mg/g Cr by nephelometry versus 48 (44.5%) by HPLC (p < 0.001) were identified. The mean +/- SD of values in the range of normoalbuminuria was 2.9 +/- 5.81 by nephelometry versus 22.6 +/- 14 for HPLC (p < 0.001). The values were not statistically different in the two birthweight categories (<1000, 1000-1499 g), in AGA versus SGA and in high BP (>90th percentile) versus normal BP children.


CONCLUSIONS
Microalbuminuria by HPLC was more marked in VLBWI than in adults and the difference between values using the two methods was significative.
Puddu
Melania
M
Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Medicine, NICU, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Melania
Puddu
P
Podda
Maria Francesca
MF
Francesca
Podda Maria
PM
Mussap
Michele
M
Michele
Mussap
M
Tumbarello
Roberto
R
Roberto
Tumbarello
T
Fanos
Vassilios
V
Vassilios
Fanos
F
D000419:Albuminuria / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015331:Cohort Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D012189:Retrospective Studies