Role of gender in the associations of microalbuminuria with inflammatory markers in hypertensive subjects: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND Though the association between microalbuminuria (MA) and inflammatory markers has been studied, the possible gender differences in these associations have not yet been analyzed. Our study aims to analyze the role of gender in the associations of MA and inflammatory markers. METHODS 1,060 hypertensive patients were assessed for MA (albumin-creatinine ratio), plasma levels of HsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), IL-18, and sCD40L (soluble CD40 ligand). Patients with diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and overt nephropathy were excluded. RESULTS Mean age was 46 +/- 9.6 years, with 560 males and 500 females. The prevalence of MA was 35.6% (n = 378). MA was associated with HsCRP (OR: 2.13, CI: 1.155-3.168, p = 0.001) and sCD40L (OR: 2.35, CI: 1.014-3.912, p = 0.013) in the premenopausal females, whereas in males (OR: 1.83, CI: 1.037-3.920, p = 0.023) and postmenopausal females (OR: 2.31, CI: 1.688-3.274, p = 0.031) MA was associated only with HsCRP and not with sCD40L or IL-18. CONCLUSIONS Association between MA and HsCRP is consistent in all hypertensive patients. However, MA is associated with sCD40L only in premenopausal females and not in males and postmenopausal females.