Microalbuminuria and hypertension in nondiabetic Japanese men

To investigate the relationship between microalbuminuria and hypertension i n nondiabetic subjects, we selected 245 Japanese men aged 35 to 69 years on the basis of the results of a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Prevalence of hypertension (blood pressure levels greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg or treatment of hypertension) in microalbuminuria-positive (0.03 to 0.3 g/d) subjects was significantly higher than that in micro albuminuria-negat ive (<0.03 g/day) subjects. Also, the significant increase of levels of tri glycerides, serum uric acid, and area of plasma insulin were recognized in microalbuminuria-positive subjects. Urinary albumin was significantly relat ed to both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in a manner independent of these relevant factors, including area of insulin. With regard to renal fu nctions, creatinine clearance of microalbuminuria positive subjects was sig nificantly increased and fractional excretion of sodium of microalbuminuria -positive subjects was significantly decreased as compared with those of mi croalbuminuria-negative subjects. In normotensive subjects, serum uric acid , which is known to be related to sodium handling at renal tubules of micro albuminuria-positive subjects, was significantly higher than those of micro albuminuria negative subjects as well as triglycerides and area of insulin, without the differences of the levels of blood pressure and BMI. Therefore , it is suspected that microalbuminuria is a renal facet of insulin resista nce, and a predictor value of hypertension. (C) 1999 American Journal of Hy pertension, Ltd.