title: [Microalbuminuria and renal insufficiency in chronic hepatitis C virus infection].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with glomerular disease, which is manifested by proteinuria with or without renal dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine the prevalence of HCV-associated renal injury and associated risk factors, we performed an observational, analytic, cross-sectional study of 120 HCV-positive patients and 145 HCV-negative controls. Data were gathered from medical records and history-taking and at least three blood and urine analyses were performed over a 1-year period. Renal insufficiency was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of less than 60ml/min/1.73 m2 and/or microalbuminuria of more than 20mg/l or a microalbumin/creatinine ratio higher than 30 mcg/mg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of microalbuminuria and renal insufficiency was 19.3% and 11.7% in HCV-positive patients versus 10.5% and 0.7% in HCV-negative controls (p 0.04), respectively. A total of 26.1% of HCV-positive patients had signs of renal injury compared with 11.8% of HCV-negative controls (p 0.003). HCV infection was independently and significantly associated with the probability of worsening of renal function. The prevalence of microalbuminuria and renal insufficiency progressively increased with greater age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV-positive patients show a high prevalence of microalbuminuria and renal insufficiency compared with HCV-negative individuals. The risk of HCV-associated renal insufficiency is independent of the presence of other predisposing factors such hypertension and diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Complejo Hospitalario La Mancha-Centro, Alcázar de San Juan, Ciudad Real, Spain. samiaoufi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aoufi Rabih
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García Agudo
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tenías Burillo
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruiz Carrillo
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: González Carro
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pérez Roldán
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ynfante Ferrús
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bernardos Martín
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Roncero García-Escribano
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Legaz Huidobro
authors.forename: Natividad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Manjavacas
mesh_terms: D000419:Albuminuria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*