title: Early detection of microalbuminuria and hypertension in children of very low birthweight.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Medicine, NICU, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Melania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puddu
authors.forename: Puddu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Melania
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Podda
authors.forename: Podda Maria
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Francesca
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mussap
authors.forename: Mussap
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michele
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tumbarello
authors.forename: Tumbarello
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roberto
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fanos
authors.forename: Fanos
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vassilios
mesh_terms: 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