ASSESSMENT OF MICROALBUMINURIA IN ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSIVES AND ITS RESPONSE TO ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME INHIBITOR THERAPY

ABSTRACTObjective: Objective is to study the prevalence of microalbuminuria among patients suffering from essential hypertension and also to evaluate theresponse of microalbuminuria to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors therapy.Methods: The study conducted at Santosh Medical College and Hospital, Ghaziabad, on 300 patients with essential hypertension. After attainingbaseline parameters in all patients, those newly diagnosed essential hypertensives with microalbuminuria not on any treatment were started on anACE inhibitor (ramipril), for 8 weeks, after which all parameters were reassessed and comparison and statistical analysis were done to establish theprevalence of microalbuminuria and its response to therapy.Results: In our study, mean microalbuminuria excretion was 101.79 mcg/mg creatinine at the beginning of the study and 80.20 mcg/mg creatinineafter 8 weeks of ACE inhibitor therapy, with 21.2% fall rate.Conclusion: Microalbuminuria is an independent risk factor for the development or worsening of hypertensive nephropathy and endothelialdysfunction, thereby increasing the risk of micro- and macro-vascular complications.Keywords: Microalbuminuria, Essential hypertension, Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy.