ALBUMINURIA IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

Albumin excretion, Analysis of urinary proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), and clinical evaluation were performed in 90 H IV-infected patients to assess subclinical renal involvement in HIV in fection. Thirteen percent of all patients showed an albumin excretion >20 mg/liter. Seven of four homosexual patients had albuminuria. Album inuria occurred exclusively with T-4 cell counts below 200/mm(3). Poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated glomerular lesions and showed no tubular proteinuria in patients with increased albumin excretion. It is concluded that subclinical renal involvement is not uncommon in HIV infection with T-4 cell counts >200/mm(3). HIV-associated nephropa thy and heroin-associated nephropathy may not be the main causes of re nal involvement. In some cases, opportunistic viral infections may be the cause of microalbuminuria.