Changes of urinary microalbumin levels in elderly patients with essential hypertension and high homocysteine levels

AIM:To explore the changes of urinary microalbumin levels in elderly patients with essential hypertension with high homocysteine levels. METHODS: Serum homocysteine and ambulatory blood pressure were measured in 120 elderly patients with hypertension. The patients were divided into two groups: high Hcy group (n=59) and control group (n=61), and urinary microalbumin was compared between groups. RESULTS: The urinary microalbumin in high Hcy group was higher than in control group ［(22±4) μg/min vs.(15±4) μg/min, P<0.01］. CONCLUSION: High urinary microalbumin in Hcy group suggests that Hcy increases renal damage in elderly patients with essential hypertension.