MICROALBUMINURIA IN PATIENTS WITH LUNG-CANCER

In a prospective study of 102 outpatients with histologically proven l ung cancer, the prevalence and prognostic significance of microalbumin uria (urinary albumin excretion >20 mu g/min) were analysed. 65 consec utive outpatients with benign lung disorders sewed as controls. An imm unoturbidimetric assay, sensitive at low concentrations, was used to q uantify the albumin excretion rate in timed overnight urine samples. P atients with malignancies had a significantly higher frequency of micr oalbuminuria (32.4% compared with controls, 13.8%, P<0.01) and median urinary albumin excretion rate (13.4 versus controls, 8.9 mu g/min, P< 0.003). Urinary albumin excretion was significantly higher in lung can cer patients with TNM stage III and IV. Patients with malignancies and microalbuminuria had a significantly lower survival rate than patient s with normoalbuminuria (probability of survival 1 and 3 years after d iagnosis 66% and 16% versus controls, 22% and 4%, P<0.00001). In a mul tivariate model, which adjusted for age, sex, performance status, hist ological type and TNM stage, microalbuminuria continued to be a signif icant predictor of survival. In conclusion, an increased prevalence of microalbuminuria has been demonstrated in patients with lung cancer. The presence of microalbuminuria was associated with advanced disease stage and poor survival. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.