Microalbuminuria after pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia.

BACKGROUND Microalbuminuria is an important risk factor for underlying vascular disease. Its detection after pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia may 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 complicated by pre-eclampsia. 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 pregnancy. RESULTS Mean urinary albumin excretion rate was significantly higher in the 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 vs 6.7 +/- 2.8 mg/24 h) (P = 0.001). The rate of occurrence of microalbuminuria was not significantly different between the early (58%) and late (42%) time-points within the study group or between the nulliparous and the multiparous women. CONCLUSIONS A history of pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia is associated with a high occurrence of microalbuminuria. Whether the presence of microalbuminuria reflects a possible underlying vascular disease in affected patients needs to be further investigated in large-scale studies.