Prevalence and Determinants of Microalbuminuria in Sickle Cell Disease Patients

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common cause of Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and microalbuminuria is a predictor of CKD.

Aims: To determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria (MA) in SCD patients as well as the clinical correlates of MA in these individuals.

Study Design: A hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State and Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, between May 2016 to April 2017

Methodology: This cross-sectional study involved a total of 100 individuals with SCD. Blood and urine samples were obtained for haematology, chemistry and urine albumin/ creatinine ratio (UACR).

Results: All the 100 studied subjects completed the study. The SCD group comprises both HbSS (86%) and HbSC (14%) subjects. The percentage of individuals with MA in the SCD subjects was 61%. The mean age of individuals with MA was 30.5(11.3) years compared to mean age of 25.3(6.8) years in those without MA (p= 0.012). In SCD subjects with microalbuminuria, eGFR was found to be significantly lower (p=0.044). The reticulocyte index, serum aspartate aminotransferase and serum albumin are the clinical correlates associated with MA in individuals with SCD.

Conclusions: MA is prevalent among subjects with SCD and should be a routine method of detecting early onset of sickle cell nephropathy.