Background and Objectives：Microalbuminuria is associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors and mortality. The aims of this study were to clarify the relationship between the spot urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) and coronary artery stenosis on diagnostic coronary angiograms and to investigate its association with inflammatory markers.
Subjects and Methods：One hundred thirteen consecutive patients, who underwent a diagnostic coronary angiogram, between April 2004 and July 2004, were divided into two groups: group I (n=89, 58±12 years, 61 male, no microalbuminuria) and group II (n=24, 65±10 years, 14 male, microalbuminuria). Microalbuminuria was diagnosed when the ACR was between 30 and 300 mg/g·cr.
Results：The mean age was higher in group II than group I (58±12 vs. 65±10 years, p=0.013), and group II also showed higher levels of white blood cell (7.0±2.4 vs. 9.5±4.1×103/mm3, p=0.009), monocyte (0.4±0.2 vs. 0.5±0.2 ×103/mm3, p=0.039), homocysteine (8.8±3.5 vs. 10.8±4.1 μmol/L, p=0.02) and fasting plasma glucose (126.1±33.6 vs. 183.7±75.3 mg/dL, p=0.001), and more frequent higher value of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (>0.5 mg/dL) (16.9 vs. 66.7%, p<0.001) compared with those of group I. There was a correlation between the ACR and all the inflammatory markers tested. Significant coronary lesions, requiring percutaneous coronary intervention, were more frequently detected in group II than in group I (50.6 vs. 75%, p=0.032).
Conclusion：The ACR was associated with significant coronary artery disease and the inflammatory markers.
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