Microalbuminuria- an emerging risk factor in acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

O bjective: To study the role of biomarkers like microalbuminuria in acute ischemic stroke. Material and Methods: A total of 70 cases admitted in wards an d ICU under Department of Medicine, NIMS Medical College & Hospital Jaipur and 70 controls that were the normal age/sex matched during study period of 15 months i.e. July 2014 to September 2015 were taken into study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Urine for microalbumin is tested at the time of admission. Stroke severity and prognosis is assessed by NIHSS score on day 0, 3, 7 & 14. Tests of statistical significance were done using Chi-square Test, unpaired’t’ test and fisher test. Results: Out of 70 age and sex matched cases and controls, Microalbumiuria is seen in 51.43% of cases an d 2.86% of controls, which is statistically significant (P <0.001). Mean urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) is 65.10 + 79.12 in cases where as it is 7.53 + 8.04 in controls which is also statiscally significant (p<0.001). Hence MA is considered as a risk factor in acute ischemic stroke. Among 70 acute ischemic stroke cases studied, MA was seen in 36 in whom 11 patients fell in severe NIHSS score and 16 very severe which is statistically significant (Chi-square = 27.605 with 3 degrees of freedom; P <0.001) * Mean NIHSS sco re for the patients with MA at the time of admission and discharge was 22.05 and 16.16 compared to 8.36 and 3.61 at the time of admission and discharge in patients without MA , most of our comatose patients had microalbuminuria thus predicting seriousness of stroke in patients with microalbumin uria. Conclusion: We found that MA is an independent risk factor and potential prognostic marker in acute ischemic stroke.