Microalbuminuria after pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia

Background. Microalbuminuria is an important risk factor for underlying vas cular disease. Its detection after pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia m ay have predictive value for the later development of chronic hypertension or renal disease. Method. The study group consisted of 48 women in whom pregnancy had been co mplicated by preeclampsia. Urinary albumin excretion rate, blood pressure, and renal function parameters were assessed 2-4 months and 3-5 years after the pregnancy. Results were compared with those in 44 women after normal pr egnancy. Results. Mean urinary albumin excretion rate was significantly higher in th e study group than in the controls both at 2-4 months after delivery (27.0/-33 vs 6.1+/-3.3 mg/24 h) and at 3-5 years after delivery (23.5 +/- 26.8 v s 6.7 +/- 2.8 mg/24 h) (P= 0.001). The rate of occurrence of microalbuminur ia was not significantly different between the early (58%) and late (42%) t ime-points within the study group or between the nulliparous and the multip arous women. Conclusions. A history of pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia is associa ted with a high occurrence of microalbuminuria. Whether the presence of mic roalbuminuria reflects a possible underlying vascular disease in affected p atients needs to be further investigated in large-scale studies.